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E-cigarettes worth over Rs 10 lakh seized from Vadodara flat, man held: Police

A team of SOG personnel raided Memon's apartment and seized 487 boxes of e-cigarettes, worth Rs 10.42 lakh.

E-cigarettesPolice are investigating to track down Ibrahim Hanif Billawala, who allegedly supplied the seized e-cigarettes. (Source: File)

In a crackdown on the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes, the Vadodara police on Tuesday seized e-cigarettes worth Rs 10 lakh from the residence of a man, who was arrested under the provisions of the COTPA Act 2003 (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003) as well as Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (PECA) Act, 2019.

Police identified the arrested accused as Saifan Iqbal Memon.

The Vadodara Special Operations Group (SOG) acted on a tip-off received by assistant sub-inspector Jayendrasinh Bhimsinh regarding the alleged sale of e-cigarettes by Memon from his apartment on Ajwa Road, even as police teams were on a drive against the sale and consumption of tobacco.

A team of SOG personnel raided Memon’s apartment and seized 487 boxes of e-cigarettes, worth Rs 10.42 lakh.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (In-charge Crime) D J Chavda said primary investigation revealed that Memon procured the e-cigarettes from Ibrahim Hanif Billawala, a resident of Panigate area in Vadodara city, who has been declared wanted in the case.

Chavda said, “The confiscated e-cigarettes belong to two brands – Elfbar and Yuoto DIGI. The SOG received a tip-off during a drive to crack down on tobacco products… The accused has been arrested and an investigation is on to track down (Billawala) from whom he procured the e-cigarettes.”

Among the confiscated stash is Elfbar Combo Rechargeable, Elfbar Raya D3 Pro, Elfbar Moon night, Elfbar Raya D2, Yuoto DIGI and Yuoto FOX of various flavours. “These items are banned under the COTPA Act as well as PECA. An FIR was registered at Bapod police station,” Chavda said.

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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