Joint Tobacco Control Raid Conducted in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, 21st February, 2024.
In a concerted effort to uphold the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the Excise Act, a joint team comprising officials from the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Police Department, Excise & Taxation Department, Department of Legal Metrology, and Food Safety & Drug Control wing conducted a comprehensive raid on February 21, 2024, in Chandigarh the raid aimed at curbing the illegal sale and distribution of tobacco products in the region.
During the raid, several violators were apprehended for flouting the regulations stipulated under the COTPA Act and Excise Act. Multiple vendors and shop owners were found to be selling cigarettes without maintaining proper purchase records and lacking appropriate signage as mandated under the COTPA 2003.
Illegal and imported cigarettes were seized by the Excise & Taxation Department, highlighting the rampant evasion of custom, excise, and GST duties. Fine of Rs. 30,200 were imposed by the Health Department Chandigarh on the erring shopkeepers. Additionally, the Police Department levied fines amounting to around Rs. 1000 under Section 4 of COTPA 2003 for violations in public places.
