Huge haul of gutkha products from shopkeeper’s house

Acting on a tip-off, a team of FSSAI officials inspected the shop owned by one Suyambu (36) at Puliakulam and found banned tobacco products kept for sale. 

“He had concealed the banned tobacco products inside groceries to avoid getting caught. A repeat offender, Suyambu sold the gutkha packets for a higher amount to his regular customers,” said an FSSAI official.

After enquiries, the FSSAI officials raided his house and seized 200 kg of gutkha stocked in several cartons. Suyambu is said to have supplied gutkha to other shops in the locality for a higher margin. An enquiry is underway to unravel his network and the source of the tobacco products. 

The FSSAI officials said that the seized products would be sent to a laboratory for testing and further action would be initiated against him. 

This seizure comes barely a week after FSSAI officials seized 100 kg of the gutkha products from a godown in Pollachi. Sadiq (45) had taken the building on rent and was clandestinely stocking tobacco products brought in wholesale. He then supplied it to retail shops. 

Despite the clamp down, the FSSAI officials claimed that there are a good number of people still involved in the gutkha trade. 

It was not long ago that a gutkha manufacturing unit in Coimbatore was sealed. It was found that a North Indian gang was sourcing raw materials for making the banned tobacco products from New Delhi and was supplying it to various States.