In one of the largest coordinated crackdowns on banned tobacco products in the region, the Tirupati Regional Vigilance and Enforcement wing on Saturday seized over 2,020 bags of gutka and other prohibited tobacco products worth more than ₹2.72 crore across Tirupati and Chittoor districts.

Acting on specific intelligence and following the directions of DGP Harish Kumar Gupta, surprise inspections were carried out on January 30 under the supervision of Regional Vigilance and Enforcement officer K. Karimullah Sharif, with teams from the GST and Revenue Departments joining the operation. The raids covered several shops and godowns in Tirupati, Puttur, Sullurpeta, Varadaiahpalem, Chittoor and Nagari. Major seizures were reported from wholesale godowns in Tirupati industrial estate and retail outlets in Puttur and Chittoor towns. Officials said criminal cases were booked against shop owners and transporters, along with the imposition of heavy penalties under stringent legal provisions. Warning of zero tolerance, vigilance authorities said inspections would continue to curb the illegal trade that poses a serious threat to public health. The public has been urged to report the illegal sale or transportation of gutka and banned tobacco products to enforcement officials.