Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Apr 19: The city police have launched a crackdown against banned e-cigarettes and fake cigarettes, seizing illegal items from multiple locations. On April 17, the Padubidri police seized E-cigarettes worth Rs 4,79,970 from a car at the Hejamady check post and arrested two individuals. The next day, Manipal police raided two shops in Manipal that were selling E-cigarettes and imported cigarettes without an MRP, in violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) act. The police seized 113 E-cigarettes worth Rs 1,50,00 lac from the shops, along with Rs 5,000 worth of imported cigarettes.

The shop owners, Ansar and Muffin, have been charged under the Prohibition of Electronic cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement) act 2019. Ansar has also been involved in the selling of fake ITC cigarettes, for which a case has been registered at the Padubidri police station. Muffin used to buy E-cigarettes from Mumbai’s Crawford market.

The government has banned e-cigarettes, counterfeit ITC cigarettes, and foreign company cigarettes. These banned items have been found in Padubidri and Manipal, resulting in two cases registered at the Manipal police station and one at the Padubidri station. "In these three cases, four accused individuals have been arrested, and items worth Rs 6,34,970/ have been seized. The investigation into these cases is ongoing, and strict action will be taken against shop owners who sell banned e-cigarettes and fake cigarettes to the public," said Akshay Machindra, superintendent of police, Udupi district.