EAGLE Force seizes 39 banned e-cigarettes in Sainikpuri raid

HYDERABAD: The anti-narcotics team, EAGLE Force, Telangana, has nabbed two persons and seized 39 banned e-cigarettes during a raid on a shop in Sainikpuri. A payment scanner and three mobile phones were also seized.

The suspects were identified as Ubais (20), the shop owner, and his cousin Hussainar PH (19), who worked at the outlet. Both are natives of Kerala and reside in Sainikpuri.

According to the police, Ubais allegedly procured the e-cigarettes from Arshad, a Kerala native whom he met while working at a shop in Bengaluru. Arshad is absconding.

“The outlet reportedly sold three to four e-cigarettes daily, with investigators identifying around 45 customers in Hyderabad. The suspects allegedly used WhatsApp to communicate with customers, PhonePe to collect payments, and delivery services to transport the products. Records indicate 26 deliveries since August 3,” said Sandeep Shandilya, Director, EAGLE Force.

The police are examining financial transactions linked to entities in Kasaragod, Kerala, and Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, as part of a wider probe into the alleged trade exceeding Rs 10 crore.

The EAGLE Force has raided seven shops and outlets over the past two months for allegedly selling banned e-cigarettes and vapes. Officials are analysing digital and financial records to identify suppliers, distribution channels and other persons involved in the trade.