Banned e-cigarettes seized from shop near Niloufer Hospital

Three people were arrested, including the shop manager. They hail from Kerala.

Hyderabad: Three persons were arrested for allegedly selling banned e-cigarettes at a shop near Niloufer Hospital in Nampally, Hyderabad.

The Telangana EAGLE Force raided Fuego Smoke, a shop that sells cigarettes both normal and vapes, perfumes and ittar. Six vapes worth Rs 1.05 lakh in cash, four mobile phones, and four payment scanners were seized.

The arrested have been identified as shop manager Md Ashfaq (24) and workers Shehabuddeen (22) and Md. Mustafa. They reside in Nampally and hail from Kasaragod, Kerala.

According to preliminary enquiry, customers placed orders through phone calls and WhatsApp and payment was fully digital. The e-cigarettes were delivered through online delivery platforms. The manager sold around three to four e-cigarettes daily.

A case was registered at Nampally Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act. Officials are investigating the supply chain, financial transactions and the alleged role of the person identified as the shop’s owner.

EAGLE Force said it had raided eight shops and outlets allegedly selling banned e-cigarettes in the last two months.