After ban, e-cigarettes worth Rs 10 lakh seized in two days

Jaipur: In just two days, health department officials have seized e-cigarettes and imported cigarettes supplied to the city through improper channels, worth Rs 15 lakh. The seizures came in the wake of a state government directive issued on May 30 banning e-cigarettes.

The officials said that they have seized e-cigarettes, and other such products worth Rs 10 lakh. Also the team found molasses, imported cigarettes and other such products which did not have proper warning printed on them, worth Rs five lakh, in last two days. First raid was conducted in Malviya Nagar shops, which started at 4.30pm on May 31 and continued till 4.30am on June 1.

The raids were conducted at Little Goa and Mister Panwala, in a joint operation of drug controller, food safety and tobacco control divisions of health department. At around 11am on Saturday, the health department officials conducted raids at Deenanathji Ki Gali in the Walled City area and in Malviya Nagar’s Sector 13. The officials seized two godowns of imported cigarettes and e-cigarettes, which belonged to one Laxmikant, said health department officials.

While taking action to prevent sale of e-cigarettes, the health department officials came to know that a person, Laxmikant, supplies imported cigarettes and e-cigarettes. He had two godowns in the city — one in the Walled City area and one in Malviya Nagar’s Sector 13 area. Health department’s drug controller seized the two godowns with the help of city police, which is questioning Laxmikant about his cigarette import business.

Health department officials said that they came to know that Laxmikant is the main supplier of imported foreign cigarettes, which are illegally being sold in the city market. Till late in the evening, health department officials were busy in sealing his godown at Deenanathji Ki Gali. The officials claimed that more such raids will continue in the city to prevent the sale of e-cigarettes.

The state government had imposed a ban on sale of e-cigarettes on May 30.