Latest news with #COTPA
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Focus on aviation safety brings smoking on flights under scrutiny
KOCHI: Renewed scrutiny of aviation safety, following the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, has shone the light on a concerning trend: Frequent incidents of passengers smoking inside planes, particularly in lavatories. According to police, there has been an increase in recent months of incidents involving passengers caught smoking on board overseas flights. In just the past two weeks, two passengers were detained for smoking on flights arriving in Kochi from Gulf countries. Officers of Nedumbassery police station said that at least six such cases have been registered in the last one year. The latest incident took place on June 15, when a passenger from Chalakudy was caught smoking in the lavatory of a Dubai-Kochi SpiceJet flight. Airport security officials detained the man and handed him over to local police. A case was registered under Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act for public nuisance and endangerment, and Sections 4 and 21 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) for smoking in prohibited areas. Last month, a similar offence was reported involving a Thrissur passenger travelling from Dubai. 'In recent months, we have been receiving frequent reports of passengers caught smoking on board, mostly in lavatories,' said Rajesh T R, deputy superintendent of police, Aluva. 'Smoking on flights is strictly prohibited due to the threat it poses to passengers and safety. Many offenders use e-cigarettes, assuming these won't be detected. Since these products are more accessible in foreign countries, passengers often carry and use them mid-flight. Though the offence is bailable, we do file a charge sheet and the accused must face trial,' he said.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
One held for selling foreign fags; stocks worth Rs 7L seized in city
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Commissioner's Task Force, Central Zone Team, along with Afzalgunj Police, conducted a raid at Gowliguda and apprehended a person involved in illegal import and sale of foreign cigarettes worth Rs 7.05 lakh. The Police on Tuesday conducted a raid at Gowliguda (back side of the Bus Depot) and arrested Manohar Singh (27). According to police, he was found to be illegally importing foreign cigarettes at a low price from Delhi to Hyderabad through private transport services. Police said Manohar was storing the contraband at his residential premises and selling it at higher rates to pan shops, kirana stores, and petty vendors across the city, thereby earning illegal profits. 'Without any valid tax invoices, he was purchasing various brands of foreign cigarettes at a low cost and transporting them to Hyderabad via private road transport services,' said YVS Sudheendra, DCP Task Force. The DCP said that upon arrival, he stored the cigarette cartons at his residence and sold them at inflated prices to local shopkeepers and vendors. The illegal sale of these foreign cigarettes, which do not carry the mandatory statutory health warnings, not only violates COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) but also evades government taxes imposed to discourage tobacco consumption. As per COTPA regulations, it is mandatory for cigarette packets to display graphic health warnings covering 85% of the packaging space. However, these illegally imported foreign brands do not comply with the packaging and labelling requirements set by the Government of India. The accused, along with the seized contraband worth Rs 7,05,000 has been handed over to the Afzalgunj Police for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Man held in Hyderabad for illegally selling foreign cigarettes, stock worth over ₹7 lakh seized
D 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.
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
DRI seizes 92.1 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹18.2 cr
New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at about ₹ 18.2 crore, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. Acting on a specific intelligence that cigarettes of foreign origin are being smuggled into India from Dubai under the guise of "bathroom and sanitary fittings", the officers of DRI, Chennai Zonal Unit, held a container bound to J-Matadee FTWZ (Foreign Trade Warehouse Zone). Detailed examination revealed that the goods in the said container were mis-declared and it contained 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign origin cigarettes of various brands such as 'Manchester United Kingdom', 'Manchester United Kingdom Special Edition' and 'Mac Ice Superslims cool blast', instead of the declared goods. "In continuation of its fight against illegal smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a major operation, has seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at approximately ₹ 18.2 crore on June 23," the ministry said. Further, the cigarettes do not comply with the packaging and labelling requirements as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, including the absence of statutory health warnings. The contraband has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is under progress, the statement added.
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
DRI seizes 92.1 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹18.2 cr
PTI Published 24 Jun 2025, 05:23 PM IST New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at about ₹ 18.2 crore, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. Acting on a specific intelligence that cigarettes of foreign origin are being smuggled into India from Dubai under the guise of "bathroom and sanitary fittings", the officers of DRI, Chennai Zonal Unit, held a container bound to J-Matadee FTWZ (Foreign Trade Warehouse Zone). Detailed examination revealed that the goods in the said container were mis-declared and it contained 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign origin cigarettes of various brands such as 'Manchester United Kingdom', 'Manchester United Kingdom Special Edition' and 'Mac Ice Superslims cool blast', instead of the declared goods. "In continuation of its fight against illegal smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a major operation, has seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at approximately ₹ 18.2 crore on June 23," the ministry said. Further, the cigarettes do not comply with the packaging and labelling requirements as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, including the absence of statutory health warnings. The contraband has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is under progress, the statement added. In the past year alone, the DRI has seized a total of 4.4 crore sticks of both foreign origin and counterfeit cigarettes that were being smuggled through ports in Chennai. The value of these seized cigarettes is estimated at ₹ 79.67 crore.
