Two arrested for selling cigarettes online, said wanted to make money

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths have busted an online tobacco products sale racket and arrested two people who were selling Indian and foreign cigarettes and pan masala (chewing tobacco) at higher price taking advantage of lockdown imposed to contain deadly virus COVID-19

The arrested have been identified as Akthkar Mirza (28) and Tasbuddin Mohiuddin (32).

Mr Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) said on Friday that the duo had posted advertisements in social media stating that they are going to deliver tobacco products at the doorstep through Moonlight delivery.

They had even posted photos of Indian and Foreign made cigarette packets along with pan masala products and had given a mobile number for the customers to contact.

Based on a tip-off, the officials from Organised Crime Wing (OCW) of CCB started following the movements of the duo. When they came to deliver the tobacco products near Ganesh Temple on Kasturba Road on Tuesday late evening the duo was caught red-handed by a team of officials.

The duo confessed that they had a stock of many brands of cigarettes and pan masala. To make quick and easy money they were selling the products for a higher price to the customers who contacted them by seeing their advertisement, Patil said.

Police have seized a car along with 450 packets of cigarettes and pan masala worth Rs 30,000 as per MRP".

A case has been registered against the duo in Cubbon Park police station under The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act and IPC section 188 - disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant.