Tirupati: Cops launch drive against sale of tobacco products

Tirupati: Tirupati Urban Police District has taken up special drive against the sale of banned tobacco products in the city from Tuesday. For the past several days, petty shop owners have been selling banned tobacco products (gutka etc ) in large scale in the city. Banned tobacco products were being transported by the few gangs from Bengaluru to Tirupati and similarly cannabis crushed powder (ganja) was also being smuggled by the gangs from Visakhapatnam. It may be noted that recently Tirupati Police caught 500 kg of cannabis bags worth Rs 1 crore and arrested five persons including a woman.

Urban SP A Ramesh Reddy initiated the campaign against the sale of banned tobacco products and usage of drugs. He launched an awareness programme to shop owners.

On Tuesday Ramesh Reddy inspected parts in city from Alipri Garuda Circle to Bus Stand via KT road and n SP has interacted with many shop owners and warned the traders not to sell tobacco products.

In addition, special branch police put their surveillance on cannabis transporters who were involved in dangerous drugs sales.