Illegal smuggling of tobacco products goes on unabated

Vizianagaram: The Vizianagaram district, which is just adjacent to Odisha and close to Chhattisgarh states, is becoming a hub of illegal business of tobacco products like gutkha and arrack. Lack of proper vigilance by excise, police, and other government agencies have become beneficial for traders of North Andhra region who are tactfully transporting various products through check posts, and also in other ways too.

Vizianagaram has one interstate check-post at Kuneru in Komarada and another at Sunki in Salur mandal. These are the border points to enter the State from Odisha, and the commercial tax, excise and other staff should check every vehicle but the staff stationed here is being manipulated by the traders of Parvathipuram, Vizianagaram, Salur and bringing the products, which are banned in the State.

Products like gutkha, khaini, and even arrack are also coming into the state without any hurdle. The police frequently seize some quantity of khaini and book cases but still the illegal trade continues. Recently the traders have started changing their style and now they are concentrating on transporting of low cost cigarettes from Odisha.

The local-made cigarettes named ‘Mega’ and some others are being manufactured at low price and are being exported to Andhra Pradesh. Without paying any taxes those products are being dumped into the local market. According to Commercial Tax officer P.Suresh, this has become a common practice for the local traders.

He said steps were being taken to step up vigilance on such activities. “Recently, we caught cigarettes coming from Raipore which are worth Rs 15 lakh and imposed penalty of Rs.3 lakh,” he said. Sources said that as far as arrack is concerned it is transported from villages in Odisha through Vizag- Raipore, Vizag-Durg, Vizag-Koraput passenger trains as there is not checking in those trains. The guzzlers can easily purchase the sachets of arrack at Rs.10 per 100 ML.