Major Tobacco Crackdown in Odisha: Police Seize Rs 1 Crore Worth of Banned Products
In a significant enforcement operation, the Nayagarh police in Odisha have launched a massive crackdown on banned tobacco products, seizing gutka worth around Rs 1 crore over the last four days. This decisive action comes just weeks after the state government imposed a comprehensive ban on all tobacco or nicotine-laced items, responding to alarming health concerns.
Arrests and Seizures Under New Regulations
Five men have been arrested for violating the stringent new rules, which were introduced to address a surge in oral cancer cases associated with chewable tobacco products like zarda, khaini, and gutka. The police conducted raids on godowns where substantial stocks of these prohibited items were hidden, leading to the confiscation.
"As part of our special enforcement drive, we targeted warehouses concealing massive quantities of banned gutka, khaini, and zarda, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore," stated S Susree, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Nayagarh. "The accused have been charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003."
Background of the Statewide Tobacco Ban
Following a directive from the Supreme Court to all states, the Odisha government notified new regulations on January 21, 2024. These rules strictly prohibit the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of any products containing tobacco or nicotine. The ban is extensive, covering both chewable and non-chewable items that are flavored, scented, or mixed with additives, regardless of their marketing methods.
This includes a wide range of products such as gutka, pan masala, and other flavored or scented chewable items—whether they are packaged or unpackaged. It also extends to products sold individually or in separate packets intended for consumer mixing, as well as any food items containing tobacco or nicotine under any name.
Health Risks and Official Concerns
Officials have highlighted grave health concerns, particularly the dangers posed to children and young adults from smokeless tobacco, which is often consumed with pan masala, betel leaf, areca nut, and slaked lime. The notification emphasizes that chewable tobacco products, including zarda, khaini, gutka, and processed or flavored tobacco, are classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO).
This classification underscores the urgent need for such bans to protect public health and reduce the incidence of oral cancer and other tobacco-related diseases in the region.
