4,000 kg of banned tobacco products seized in raids in Kerala

In a crackdown on banned tobacco and narcotic products in migrant worker dominated areas, Kerala Excise department today seized nearly 4,000 kg of the contraband and took into custody 21 persons during raids in labour camps in Ernakulam district.
Teams of officials from Excise and police departments carried out searches in the labour camps in Aluva, Angamaly, Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha and seized banned tobacco products, state Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh told reporters.
He said 21 people, most of them migrant workers, were taken into custody in connection with the seizure.
"Around 3,800 to 4,000 kg of banned tobacco products have been seized from these areas," Singh said.

Earlier, Excise officials saidnarcotic substances, including ganja and brown sugar, were also seized from the migrant workers' camps during the raids.
The raid named "Operation Bhai" was held based on complaints from residents of the localities about smuggling of the banned products and also following reported use of ganja and other narcotics by sections of migrant workers, they said.
Singh said a strong anti-drug campaign would be launched in the state from August 1.