Banned e-cigarettes seized at a store in Gudimalkapur

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force and the Gudimalkapur Police busted a racket selling banned e-cigarettes near Olive Hospitals in Nanal Nagar.

Police raided Smoke Vault, a store located at Gandam Complex, and seized a large quantity of e-cigarettes, seven mobile phones, documents and a two-wheeler, totalling Rs 7.06 lakh.

Abdullah Arshed, the store owner, and five workers have been arrested. He initially dealt in chocolates and hookah products in Kasaragod before moving to Dubai in 2016, where he worked at an IT company.

He returned to India and established Smoke Vault outlets in Nanal Nagar, Gudimalkapur and Madhapur, dealing in chocolates and hookah products.

Another accused, Shareef, who is based in Dubai, is absconding. He allegedly sold the e-cigarettes in bulk to Arshed, police said.