Apartment caretaker caught selling banned vapes in Saifabad; Rs 21 lakh worth e-cigarettes seized

Hyderabad: The Central Zone Task Force of the Hyderabad Police, in coordination with Saifabad Police, arrested a 28-year-old man and seized e-cigarettes worth Rs 21 lakh from a flat in Adarsh Nagar, as part of a major crackdown on the illegal trade of banned electronic cigarettes.

Acting on a credible tip-off, police raided an apartment in Prinstancode Apartments, opposite Grand Bazar, on the night of June 5. The accused, identified as Akash Sinde, was found in possession of 670 electronic cigarettes of various international brands, including Elfbar, Elux, Raya D1, Nasty and Shisha.

Sinde, originally from Mangalhat and working as a caretaker at the apartment, reportedly turned to the illicit business in search of quick profits. Police said he procured the banned vapes from Delhi through a network of agents, stored them at his workplace, and sold them secretly, primarily targeting college students and teenagers.

Dangers of e-cigarettes

Authorities have raised concerns about the increasing availability and use of e-cigarettes among youth. These devices contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, making them addictive and posing significant health risks.

The seized items, with an estimated market value of Rs 21,00,000, have been handed over to Saifabad Police for further investigation. Legal proceedings are underway against the accused.