Sleuths of the Vigilance and Enforcement conducted a raid and seized huge quantity of gutka products, worth about Rs.4 lakh. They took one person into custody, said Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Officer R.N. Ammi Reddy.
On a tip-off, the team led by vigilance Circle Inspector Kishore Babu conducted the raid at Reddypalem in the city in the early hours on Monday. They seized 20 bags of gutka packets of Kaleja and MC brands, and took the accused, G. Lakshman into custody.
During investigation, the accused revealed that the banned gutka products were transported from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Efforts are being made to identify the manufacturers and the mode of transport, said the RVEO.
Mr. Ammi Reddy said the Vigilance Department conducted several raids on gutka wholesale traders and retailers at many places in Guntur district and recovered the banned tobacco and gutka products, valued about Rs.65.78 lakh up to December 31, 2013.
