Coimbatore Police Seize Over 9.7 Tonnes of Banned Tobacco Products, 725 Arrested This Year

Coimbatore: Coimbatore District Police have seized more than 9.7 tonnes of banned tobacco products and arrested 725 people this year as part of an intensified crackdown on their illegal sale, storage and distribution across the district. According to a press release issued on October 9, under the direction of Superintendent of Police A. Pavan Kumar Reddy, IPS, the police registered 21 cases during intensive inspections conducted across the district in the preceding 24 hours. The cumulative enforcement figures for the current year include 697 cases registered, 725 persons arrested and 9,757 kg and 838 grams of banned tobacco products seized. In addition, 234 shops found violating regulations governing the sale of banned tobacco products have been sealed by officials of the Food Safety Department. The district police said enforcement measures were continuing against those involved in the illegal sale and storage of banned tobacco products. The public has been urged to share information about the illegal sale or storage of such products in their respective areas and cooperate with the police in curbing the unlawful trade. The district police said intensive enforcement operations would continue across Coimbatore district.