04 April,2026 12:52 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Banned gutkha, pan masala, and flavoured tobacco products worth Rs 6.6 lakh were seized. Representational Pic
Banned gutkha and tobacco products worth Rs 6.6 lakh were seized from a tempo abandoned on the roadside in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday, PTI reported.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police found the tempo abandoned in the jurisdiction of the Navghar police station on March 31.
Banned gutkha, pan masala, and flavoured tobacco products worth Rs 6.6 lakh were seized from the vehicle, the police added, noting that a case has been registered against the unidentified driver and owner of the tempo under the Food Safety and Standards Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In a similar incident in January, the Mumbai Police seized banned gutkha and flavoured pan masala products worth over Rs 2 crore from Mulund, arresting 10 persons in connection with the illegal trade, officials said.
Acting on confidential information, the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) received inputs that government-banned products were being transported in small vehicles and stored on vacant land near the old toll plaza close to the Paroli toll plaza in Mulund East.
Following the tip-off, a team from Mulund Police Station conducted a raid at the identified location at around 6 am on January 8 under senior officers' guidance.
During the operation, police seized 14 vehicles - including three Eicher trucks, 10 other vehicles and a car - and detained 10 persons allegedly involved in the illegal transportation and storage of banned products.
A substantial stock of gutkha, chewing tobacco and flavoured pan masala of various brands was recovered from the seized vehicles.
Officials said the banned products were valued at Rs 80,55,620, while the seized vehicles were estimated to be worth Rs 1,20,75,000, taking the total seizure value to Rs 2,01,30,620.
The accused have been booked at Vikhroli Police Station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Among those arrested are Adil Abubakar Sheikh (37) and Siraj Unullah Siddique (30). Further investigation into the supply chain and network is ongoing.
Senior police officials commended the Mulund Police team for executing the operation under the supervision of officers from the eastern region.
