300 kg gutkha seized from godown in Coimbatore

Acting on a tip off that banned tobacco products were unloaded from a van to be stocked in a godown, a team of FSSAI officials led by B Vijayalalithambigai, designated officer, Coimbatore district visited the spot on Sunday night.

However the godown remained locked, however, the officials sensed the presence of tobacco products inside with its strong smell. As the godown owner Wakaram, 35 was not there, the officials sealed the godown.

On Monday, the FSSAI officials got hold of Wakaram and made him open the godown. It was then they found about 300 kilograms of gutkha worth Rs three lakhs were stocked inside.

“Banned tobacco products were smuggled from Bangalore in Karnataka to Tamil Nadu through vehicles for sale in shops. As there is no ban on gutkha products in the neighbouring state, the smugglers buy them there and sell those banned items with a higher profit,” said Vijayalalithambigai.

FSSAI officials said that a pack of gutkha which was priced at Rs 10 before is now sold for as high as Rs 40 following frequent seizures and strict enforcement of ban in the district. The officials have sent samples of the seized tobacco packs for lab testing. Further action would be taken against the godown owner based on the test reports.