Trichy: Food safety department officials destroyed more than five tonne banned tobacco products at Panjappur in Trichy on Monday afternoon.
The team led by designated officer (DO) of food safety department in Trichy Dr S Chithra carried out the process at a location away from the residential area. The destroyed tobacco products were seized in the raids conducted by the food safety department and police in Gujili Street, Kammala Street and Palakkarai areas in the city since August 2018. The seized products were stored in the premises of the food safety department near Kajamalai in Trichy.
The latest seizure was nearly 4 tonne of banned gutka and tobacco products on January 21, 2019, and arrested 2 people for stocking it at a godown illegally. The officials found that they played a major role in supplying the banned items to the retail shops who sell them clandestinely.
Sources said that the raids at the godowns and the subsequent seizure will increase the retail price of the tobacco products. Though Tamil Nadu government led by chief minister J Jayalalithaa had put a ban on chewable tobaccos in 2013, the prevalence of the products remained unstoppable even after six years despite the officials taking action on the violators. The officials pointed out the demand among tobacco lovers.
As far as Tamil Nadu was concerned, the officials said that the banned items were being transported to the state through Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, said an official on the condition of anonymity.
Whenever the officials carry out the raids at the godowns and retail shops in Trichy, there will be less activity of the violators. The situation will become normal making the products available freely after some time. “We will conduct surprise raids and seize the banned products besides arresting such offenders,” said DO Dr Chithra on Monday.
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