Reaching Kerala at meager cost and reaping profit of lakhs; Police and Excise gearing up to curb sale of illegal product targetting students

PATHANAMTHITTA: More than 2,000 packets of banned tobacco products were seized from a shop in Thiruvalla Vallamkulam. Soman (70) and Somesh (35), residents of Vallamkulam, were arrested by the police. The police say that their shop in Vallamkulam is a centre for selling banned tobacco products.

Dansaf and the police conducted a joint inspection ahead of the school's reopening. Police say they have been selling tobacco products for years. These were mainly sold to school and college students. Thiruvalla police said that the inspection will be intensified in the context of reopening of schools.

Soman and Somesh of Tiruvalla Vallamkulam are not the only ones who are profiting from such business in Kerala. There is widespread trade of these products from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. According to the police and excise officials, there is a trade worth crores of rupees in Kerala every day.

Oommen Chandy government banned the sale and purchase of products like Hans and Panparag in Kerala in 2011. However, almost all villages, cities and small towns in Kerala have such items on sale.

Since it is a banned product, it is sold at a price ten times higher in Kerala. The product, which is bought from other states for Rs. 8 and Rs. 10 per packet, is sold for Rs. 100-150 when it reaches Kerala. The reality is that even if the ones who sell these products are caught by the police, they get away with paying a small fine and will trade these again.

A packet of banned tobacco product can be sold with a profit of Rs 100. The factor that prompts the seller to sell again even if he is caught is the misconception that there will be no serious case since it is not a heavy intoxicant. Illicit tobacco makes more money than any other commodity. Prohibited tobacco products reach Kerala mainly from the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and border villages. Police and Excise are gearing up for strong checks to stop such sales targeting students.