Flash inspections under way against banned tobacco products
Along with the local police, special squads from the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) and Crime Squad members under the District Police Chiefs will take part in flash inspections. The Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police are also alert to attempts to smuggle banned tobacco products by train.
'As migrant workers have been found associated with the bulk retail of smuggled tobacco products, their temporary accommodations will be inspected frequently with the support of the local police. The building owners have also been asked to be watchful of any illegal activities by tenants,' said a police officer from the Anti-Narcotics squad. He added that students' support would be sought to help identify local traders of banned tobacco products.
According to DANSAF officers, they had carried out multiple raids in several suspected spots ahead of the school reopening in the district. There were also considerable seizures from some of the suspected spots apart from the arrest of the carriers, they said.
Meanwhile, the district administration announced a new project to declare all educational institutions tobacco-free zones by June 30. The campaign with the mission would be carried out in view of the upcoming 'World No Tobacco Day'. A district-level meeting with the heads of various government departments was also held at the Collectorate recently to plan the project execution.
'We have decided to start the activities by launching a 'Yellow Line Campaign', which will ensure the participation of students and teachers in forming a human chain within a 100-metre radius of schools. The purpose is to reiterate that the area is a no-tobacco zone,' said a senior Revenue department official. He added that the formation of school-level vigilance committees, awareness classes against tobacco use, and the erection of anti-tobacco boards in public places would be carried out as part of the aggressive campaign.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Drug trafficking: preventive detention recommended for 40 persons in seven months
Aiming to dismantle the discreet network of repeat offenders in synthetic drug trafficking, the Kozhikode City police have, over the past seven months, submitted a list of 40 persons to the Home department, recommending their preventive detention for a year under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988. The recommendation was fully accepted in the case of 10 persons, who were subsequently lodged in Poojappura Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram district during the period. Police officers heading anti-narcotics squad operations within Kozhikode city limits described it as one of the toughest actions taken to break the chain of habitual offenders in the illegal trade. They said that the detention period could be extended further, based on reviews by a specially constituted State-level advisory board headed by a High Court judge. 'The orders on the remaining 30 cases are still under the Home department's consideration. As the special squads continue to work extensively to identify more such suspects, the number may further rise,' said a senior officer of the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force. He added that all police districts maintain similar lists awaiting action from the Home department. In addition to preventive detention measures, the city police, in the past seven months, have forfeited illegally amassed assets — including vehicles and other properties — belonging to 10 drug pushers earlier arrested in major synthetic drug trafficking cases. Their bank accounts were also frozen following stringent measures taken with the approval of the competent authority under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976.
New Indian Express
07-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Kochi police arrest two, seize Rs 2.5 crore worth ambergris
KOCHI: The Kochi city police seized approximately one-and-a-half kilograms of ambergris (whale vomit), which was smuggled to Kochi from Lakshadweep for illegal sale. Suhail, a resident of Fort Kochi, and Suhail, of Kalpeni in Lakshadweep, were arrested in connection with the seizure. The seized substance is highly valuable and rare, with an estimated price of around Rs 2.5 crore in the international market, said a police officer with the DANSAF squad. A team led by Mattancherry sub-inspector Jimmy Jose seized the ambergris, based on a confidential tip-off received by city police commissioner Putta Vimaladitya. Fort Kochi resident Suhail was apprehended near the Fort Kochi Jetty, During the interrogation, he attempted to assault the officers and flee. However, he was overpowered after a brief struggle, and 35 g of ambergris, which he had intended to sell as a sample, was recovered from his possession, said the official. Further interrogation led to another major seizure, about 1 kg of ambergris, from Thoppumpady on Wednesday morning.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Time of India
Koz man caught with 13kg hybrid ganja worth 12cr
T'puram: A Kozhikode native was arrested at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Tuesday for attempting to smuggle 13kg of hybrid ganja, estimated to be worth around Rs 12 crore, in the illegal market. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The arrested individual, Sudheesh Tenson, reportedly brought the contraband from Thailand. Acting on a specific tip-off, a joint team of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) and the Dansaf wing of Thiruvananthapuram city police intercepted him shortly after his arrival. Sudheesh travelled via Bangkok and Dubai, landing in Thiruvananthapuram on an Emirates flight. On his arrival, Dansaf and DRI officials, who were waiting at the terminal, detained him and conducted a detailed search of his luggage. The hybrid ganja was found carefully concealed in 45 packets inside his baggage. Officials confirmed that the variety seized was a potent strain of cannabis known as 'hybrid ganja', often cultivated in controlled environments and known for its high THC content. It is commonly trafficked for premium buyers in metro cities. Authorities believe the consignment was intended for distribution in Kerala and possibly other South Indian states. DRI launched a detailed probe to trace the wider network and origins of the supply chain.
