KOCHI: About 3, 820 kilograms of various brands of pan masala were seized in a raid conducted by the Food Safety officials in Aluva and Tripunitura. The raid was part of the ongoing efforts to curb the sales of tobacco products in the district. District Food Safety Officer K Ajith Kumar said that about 3, 800 kilos of pan masala were confiscated in a raid at the A Venkitachalam Tobacco Merchants in Aluva at around 10 am.

The officials raided the shops owned by the group, as part of the intensified drive to check clandestine sales of pan masala in the district. Kumar said that the local population informed the officials that several bundles of pan masala were stored at the godown of the distribution company in Aluva. Various tobacco products including gutka and khaini were seized in the raid. The officials also raided a shop in Tripunitura and seized 20 kilograms of pan masala. Kumar said that action will be initiated under the provisions of the Food Safety Act against those responsible for sale of pan masala.