CANACONA
As many as 242 foreign cigarettes and tobacco packets of over 15 brands and 170 cigarette packets of Indian brands were seized and two shopkeepers were penalised for not displaying the warning boards, in violation of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
Canacona Jt Mamlatdar Dattaraj Gauns Desai, a police team and Roland Martins of GOACAN were part of the Enforcement Squad.
Later speaking to media persons, Martins informed that the raid was conducted following COTPA violations and regretted that despite previous warning and seizures, foreign and domestic tourists were being taken for a ride by the illegal display and sale of tobacco products. “A report of this seizure will be submitted to the collector for further advice and action,” informed Martins.
“Foreign cigarettes are imported illegally without any warning signs for as cheap as Rs 50-70 from China and Indonesia and sold at high costs, thereby hoodwinking tourists and local residents alike.”
“Palolem beach is a world tourist attraction and is visited heavily by foreign as well as domestic tourists. These cigarettes brands are easily available and school and college students are getting attracted to this nuisance,”
said Martins.
Martins has appealed to the locals to report the illegal sale of cigarettes to the mamlatdar or police.
