Banned pan masala, scented tobacco worth ₹1.5 crore seized near Manor

Palghar: The Palghar division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday, October 9, seized banned pan masala and scented tobacco from a tempo on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway near Manor. The goods were valued at ₹1,30,86,000 and the vehicle at ₹20 lakh, taking the total seizure to ₹1,50,86,000.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of food safety officers Vishwasrao Bhoye and P.S. Kachhave, under assistant commissioner Pravin Suryavanshi, laid a trap in front of Hotel Manor Gate within the limits of Wade Khadkona village. At about 4.30 pm they stopped a suspicious tempo coming from Gujarat. A search carried out with the help of Manor police turned up a large stock of the banned products.

While the goods were being counted and reloaded at Manor police station, the driver and the cleaner, both from Rajasthan, slipped away using the tempo as cover. Police are searching for them.

Preliminary inquiries show the consignment was loaded in Vapi, Gujarat, and was to be delivered through middlemen to a buyer in Lonavala. A case has been registered at Manor police station against eight accused, including the vehicle's owner, on a complaint by food safety officer Bhoye. Sub-inspector Balaji Munde is investigating.

Source: Loksatta