The police raided a petty shop in Valley View near Ooty on Tuesday and seized 30kg of banned tobacco products, worth Rs 3 lakh, from the shop owner. The police arrested the shop owner, M Basheer, 53, and remanded him in judicial custody on the same night.
The police acted on a tip-off and conducted a search operation at the shop. They found 30kg of banned tobacco products, including 18kg of Hans and 4kg of Vimal pan masala, among other brands, hidden in the shop. The police seized the contraband and booked the shop owner under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
The investigation and the background
The police are investigating the source and the supply chain of the banned tobacco products. They suspect that the shop owner was involved in a racket that smuggled and sold the banned tobacco products in Ooty and other areas in Coimbatore district. The police are also looking for other shops and vendors who might be selling the banned tobacco products.
The police have been cracking down on the sale and consumption of banned tobacco products in the district, as they pose a serious health risk to the public. The banned tobacco products contain harmful chemicals and substances, such as nicotine, tar, and areca nut, which can cause oral cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other ailments.
The awareness and the appeal
The police have been creating awareness among the public about the ill-effects of the banned tobacco products, and urging them to refrain from using them. The police have also been appealing to the public to inform them about any shops or persons who are selling or using the banned tobacco products.
The police have also been coordinating with other departments, such as the health department, the food safety department, and the revenue department, to curb the sale and consumption of the banned tobacco products. The police have also been conducting regular raids and checks at various places, such as bus stands, railway stations, markets, and schools, to seize the banned tobacco products and penalize the offenders.
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