TGNAB cracks down on e-cigarette sales to minors: 55 boxes seized, one held
The TGANB received information that e-cigarettes were being sold to minor students of reputed schools and colleges
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy Published on 7 July 2024 8:25 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Sleuths of Kalapathar police and Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGNAB) arrested a person and seized 55 boxes containing 538 flavours of e-cigarette machines worth Rs 8 lakhs.
Case details
On July 6, the TGANB received information on its official toll-free number (8712671111) that e-cigarettes were being sold to minor students of reputed schools and colleges.
The sleuths of Kalapathar Police, Hyderabad, along with TGANB conducted a raid on a house in Khaja Nagar, Mir Alam Tank, Tadbun, Kalapathar and found illegal marketing and sales of banned electronic cigarette ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery System) containing propylene, glycol, glycerin, water, nicotine and flavourings with no manufacturing dates.
Details of accused
The accused was identified as Mohammed Jaffer (25), a Rapido rider and a resident of Khaja Nagar, Mir Alam Tank, Tadbun, Kalapathar. The seized e-cigarette machines include IGET-L-700 (9 boxes), NASTY BAR- 8500 (8 boxes), ELF BAR-RAYA D-1 (10 boxes), YUOTO-DIGI-15000 (12 boxes) and ELF BAR-TE-6000 (16 boxes)
Modus operandi
Mohammed Jaffer came in contact with one Ahmed resident of Shaikpet here who supplies e-cigarettes. Jaffer found this business lucrative and he also started supplying e-cigarettes to customers, especially minor students.
Jaffer took the database of the students from reputed educational institutions and started contacting them. The students would place their orders on the WhatsApp number 7981204886 of Jaffer and he would deliver the e-gigarettes to them at the locations sent by the students.
Javeed used to attract needy customers/students by sending different brands of e-cigarette machines listed on their WhatsApp numbers. After receiving confirmation from the customers, he will deliver the same to them at their choice places and receive money from the customers through his Paytm/Phonepe number 7981204886.
On verifying the cell phone of Jaffer, the names of 30 students named Code 1 to Code 30 were present. The police said that they had identified some students from various schools.
The government of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an advisory stating that Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including e-cigarettes, Heat-Not-burn devices, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-nicotine-flavoured Hookah and the like products are dangerous to public health and Nicotine is prohibited for use as an ingredient in any food item under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) regulation, 2011 of the Food Safety and Standards Act,2006.
A case was registered under sections 7 r/w 4 of Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act-2019 and Sec-77 of Juvenile Justice Act-2015 of Kalapathar Police Station.
Appeal to the general public
Parents and teachers should treat the students with love and affection and encourage them to inculcate good habits.
In recent times, we have seen several youths/students getting addicted to e-cigarettes containing propylene, glycol, glycerin, water, nicotine and flavourings, committing crimes and involving in other anti-social activities. This leads to the consumption of drugs. Several families have become victims of this menace.
It is an ardent request from the Hyderabad City Police to the youth/students not to fall prey to drugs and request the parents to keep a watch on the activities of their children and feel free to approach police or pass information to police on 8712671111 to curtail such anti-social activities and strive for drug-free city.
