Man held in Hyderabad for illegally selling foreign cigarettes, stock worth over ₹7 lakh seized

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A man involved in illegally procuring and selling foreign cigarettes without statutory warnings or tax documentation was arrested by the Central zone team of the Commissioner’s Task Force along with the Afzalgunj police during a raid near Gowliguda bus depot.

The accused, identified as 27-year-old Manohar Singh, a resident of Gowliguda Chaman, was allegedly importing foreign cigarette brands from Delhi using private transport services. During the raid, police seized 322 cartons of seven foreign brands worth ₹7.05 lakh. The police said each brand was being sold in bulk, with most boxes containing ten smaller packets each.

According to police, Singh initially worked in the cigarette lighter marketing business but turned to the illegal trade in foreign cigarettes in pursuit of easy money.

Officials noted that these foreign cigarette packs did not carry the mandatory health warnings required under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), which stipulates that 85% of the packaging must display pictorial and textual health warnings. The accused, along with the seized items, was handed over to the Afzalgunj police for further investigation.