Surprise raid by Commissioner Food Safety, huge contraband products recovered

Port Blair, Mar 30: The enforcement officials of Food Safety under the direct supervision of Commissioner Food Safety conducted surprise raids at various places in South Andaman District and recovered huge quantities of contraband tobacco products from shopkeepers as well as general public.

On 05.03.2017, one Shri. Sanjay Kumar was caught with 2.5 kg of tobacco products. On 14.03.2017, one Shri. M. Mukund Rao R/o Hut Bay had been caught with 9 packets of zarda.

In another incident on 15.03.2017, PS, Hut Bay seized 40 packets (each ½ kg) from Shri. Aftab Alam R/o Ongi Tikrey. On an information passed through CCS, Port Blair a parcel was recovered from Head Post Office, Port Blair belonging to Shri.B.S.Rao with 150 gms and 200 gms of tobacco products. Again on 18.03.2017, Shri. Alauddin Sekh and Shri. Manurul Gazi R/o Junglighat caught red handed with 40 kg of tobacco leafs at VSI Airport on arrival from Kolkata. Further, on 20/03/2017 as per an information received on the arrival of tobacco products, food safety officials and police personnel, CCS, Port Blair approached the courier agency M/s Andaman Express, Goalghar. The packages were inspected and confirmed the arrival of 3 packages of clothes basically saris including 608 pouches of zarda as the items were not claimed by anyone. On the same day the FSO, Hut Bay had caught a fisherwomen Smt. Narasamma for selling prepared panand seized 22 prepared from her possession and also from Shri. Raja Kumar in possession of 40 Nos. prepared pan. Similarly, on 29/03/2017 PS, Chatham handed over 21 tins and 200 pouches of zarda from one Shri.B.Suryanarayana, R/o Dairyfarm.

In all the above seizures, the department is taking appropriate action under Food Safety & Standards Act’2006. During the month of March’2017 17 accused were imposed penalty for selling contraband tobacco products and a sum of Rs. 2,27,000/- was recovered as fine.

Further, the general public as well as business communities are requested not to involve in the trade of contraband tobacco products and if any information is available with them may be communicated to Mobile No. 9434280018 of Commissioner Food Safety or telephone No. 03192-231024(Food Safety Section) or 1070 (Toll Free).