Smuggling of ‘gutka’, ‘khaini’ continues unabated

Porous borders make A.P., particularly Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, a hub for sale of the contraband

Three days ago, a special team of the City Task Force (CTF), led by ACP I. Chittibabu, intercepted a goods van on the National Highway near Indira Gandhi Zoological Park and apprehended two persons, besides seizing 150 bags of banned ‘gutka’ and ‘khaini’ being transported in the vehicle camouflaged under vegetables.

The contraband was reportedly procured by smugglers at Berhampur in Odisha and being brought for sale in the districts of Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The market value of the seized stuff is estimated at Rs. 30 lakh.

‘Gutka’, ‘khaini’, and any form of ‘pan masala’ laced with tobacco or nicotine are banned in Andhra Pradesh under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006. Since its enforcement in 2006, the ban is being renewed for one year on January 9 every year.

“Initially, 16 States imposed a ban on the contraband. But later, States such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu lifted the ban,” said Mr. Chittibabu.

Despite the ban, the products have been finding their way into the State through the porous borders of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu. There are two main entry points — from Chennai to Hyderabad and Vijayawada and from Rayagada and Berhampur in Odisha to Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. “Whatever be the entry point, the hubs are Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada,” Mr. Chittibabu told The Hindu .

The mode of transport is by road. In most cases, it has been found that the gunnysacks contain three-fourths of the banned stuff and the remaining space topped with vegetable or household items.

If the products are moved by train, they are neatly packed, sealed, and transported through the luggage van, wherein various items are marked on papers. And they can be intercepted or caught only with prior information.

Game plan

While in most cases ban on an item affects the traders, in the case of ‘gutka’ and ‘khaini’, it is a blessing in disguise.

According to the police, there are a few people or smugglers based in Guntur, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam who have been funding the ban order. It is learnt that they dole out Rs.10 crore to Rs. 15 crore as party fund to enforce the ban. This will help them sell the stuff in the market at four times the normal rate. A packet with MRP of Rs. 5 is sold for Rs. 25 in Visakhapatnam.

“The ban also encourages the spurious market. There are units involved in the making of the banned products operating from houses in Berhampur and Rayagada,” said a senior police officer who had traced the origin of the delivery system.

Though there is a ban, the police are toothless as they do not have the power to arrest the accused.

“We can only seize the material and hand over the culprits and the material to the Food and Safety officials. There is no imprisonment and the fine is up to Rs. 2 lakh,” said Mr. Chittibabu.

It is learnt that in most cases, the accused pose as poor shopkeepers and get away with a meagre fine of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000.

In Visakhapatnam, the fine amount has not crossed Rs. 25,000. It is also learnt that the accused get away with the seized stuff by “managing” the officials concerned.

“Either the fine amount has to be huge, or the police or other enforcement agencies should be given the power to arrest. This apart, the accused should serve a jail term as in the case of NDPS Act. There should be some form of deterrence,” said Commissioner of Police T. Yoganand.