Ganja peddlers switch to selling gutka

CHENNAI: Many smugglers who used to deal with ganja have shifted to gutka and pan masala after its ban because of the lower risk and better returns. 

Inspections conducted by the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drugs Administration has found that nearly half the number of shops in the city are selling banned tobacco products at inflated prices ever since the ban on sale of gutka and pan masala products was implemented in May 2013. 

Between June and December 2013, food administration officials conducted raids at 1,410 shops and found 686 shops with stocks of banned pan masala products. The department had seized 65 tonnes of banned products worth 2.24 crore from these shops in the same period. 

Food administration official said poor enforcement against banned chewable tobacco manufacturing units in other states is behind the gradual rise in smuggling. This has prompted some ganja peddlers to switch to these pan masala items. 

A senior food administration official said that a majority of these racketeers are based in the neighbouring states, and they smuggle in the goods using transport and parcel firms. "They have also started supplying these banned chewing products to retail shops in smaller quantities after a series of seizures of large quantities," the official said. 

In November last year, food administration officials seized 32.5 tonnes of banned tobacco products worth 1 crore from a transport firm in Royapuram. It had also instructed transport and parcel firms to stop transporting gutka and pan masala consignments from other states. 

Another official said poor coordination of the department with Southern railway, transport department, police and corporation has led to an increase in the illegal trade. "It's difficult to check each bag and consignment at railway stations and bus depots. Action happens often on specific tip-offs," he said. 

Ashok Modi, a resident of Sowcarpet said sale of these products is rampant in areas like Mint Street and Broadway. "The wholesalers earn huge profit after the ban, since they sell at a higher price and they don't have to pay tax. The banned stuff is easily available in our area," he said. 

Health experts said chewable tobacco is a major cause of mouth cancer, which constitutes the largest number of cancer cases among men in Tamil Nadu. A regular consumer says ban on tobacco products has not made any difference other than the increase in the price because of black marketing. "It's available everywhere in the city. But they are selling pan masala and chewing tobacco separately after the ban. It gives us the same taste and the kick of gutka," he said.