Bengaluru Police Bust Illegal Cigarette Rackets, Seize Goods Worth ₹45 Lakh

Police in Bengaluru, India, have successfully dismantled two separate illegal tobacco sales operations, seizing contraband valued at over ₹45 lakh and apprehending three individuals. In the first operation, Upparpet police raided a shop and godown in Gandhinagar following a tip-off, confiscating 1,026 bundles of banned foreign cigarettes worth approximately ₹35 lakh. During interrogation, the two accused suspects revealed that their supply chain originated from a Delhi-based supplier, prompting ongoing efforts to trace the source. A case was registered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. In a distinct incident, Thalaghattapura police arrested an individual for selling e-cigarettes to students and others near a college. This raid resulted in the seizure of 440 e-cigarettes, 80 refill liquid bottles, a vehicle used for transportation, and cash, with an estimated total value of ₹10 lakh. The accused in this second case was released after being served a notice. These crackdowns highlight continued law enforcement efforts to curb the illicit trade of banned tobacco products and unregulated vaping devices in the region.