Hyderabad: Acting on tip-off, the sleuths of Special Operations Team, LB Nagar Zone, Rachakonda Commissionerate along with Pahadi Shareef Police, raided banned Tobacco (Zarda) manufacturing and packing unit, godown of Zarda (Tobacco) at Pahadi Shareef.
They seized one Zarda packing machine, four Tobacco mixing trays, 61 Zarda Cartons each containing 26 Kgs, 12 Tobacco gunny bags each containing 30 Kgs, (20 liters) of LLP Food Grade Oil, five kgs Aromatics, 125 loose tobacco packets, five chemical cans, seven empty cans, four weighing machines, mixer grinder, 15kgs of all mixed perfume Jam, 10000 empty pouches, four tubs, two filters, packing cottons, labels and other materials all worth about Rs.15 lakhs and arrested one person Md. Shahbaaz, a resident of Rahmath Nagar, Jaffer Colony, Secunderabad.
The accused by name Md. Shahbaaz is running Godown at Plot No. 142, Near Anganwadi, Pahadi Shareef for the past couple of months. (Tobacco Products in the name of AR Zarda) by taking rented godown, for livelihood. He is indulging in the illegal storage of noxious Tobacco (banned zarda). On observation found that he had storage, and selling the Zardas which contains Tobacco and Nicotine as ingredients and tobacco products, which packed in pouches/sachets on the name of AR Zarda. He engaged workers of Uttar Pradesh for mixing, packing the banned, noxious Zarda and took all precautions to keep the manufacturing process as secret. The accused is supplying the same to the gullible customers in the market.
It may be recalled that the Government of Telangana has banned the sale, manufacture, distribution and storage of Tobacco and all its variants. After the accused planned to earn easy money by way of selling banned Tobacco in the market as it as much demand in the market. He used to purchase Noxious Tobacco (banned zarda) from the organizer dealers in cheap rate from Begum Bazar, clandestinely transporting & storing in his godown, mixing with edible oils and flavors, perfumes and delivering to known and needy customers of wholesale in Begum Bazar to gain easy profits.
The accused person along with seized property handed over to the S.H.O. Pahadi Shareef P.S., for taking further action against them.(NSS)