Mangaluru police seize banned E-cigarettes worth Rs 9.7 lakh, Three Booked

Mangaluru: Mangaluru city police on Tuesday seized e-cigarettes and related items worth Rs 9,72,745 from a shop in Lalbagh that was allegedly selling and supplying banned tobacco products. Three persons, including the shop owner, have been booked in connection with the case.

Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy said acting on a credible tip-off, a team led by Barke Police Inspector Mohan Kottari, along with PSI and other staff, raided the shop. The establishment was reportedly selling banned e-cigarettes, indigenous and foreign cigarette brands without proper authorisation, and hookah equipment to the public, including youth.

During the raid, police seized 847 e-cigarettes of various brands worth Rs 4,43,125, 10 packs (412 boxes) and 86 packs of Indian and foreign cigarettes lacking the mandatory 85% health warning images, worth Rs 5,09,120, and 25 hookah devices valued at Rs 20,500.

Following the seizure, cases were registered at Barke Police Station against Santosh (32), resident of Bantwal taluk; Ibrahim Irshad (33), resident of Kudroli, Mangaluru; and Shivu Deshkodi, the shop owner. The trio has been booked under Sections 7 and 8 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, and Section 20(2) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Investigation is ongoing.