KOCHI: Nearly 4,000 kg of tobacco products worth Rs 20 lakh were seized by the Excise Department officials in the district-wide raid codenamed 'Operation Bhai' conducted in Ernakulam focusing on migrant labour camps on Sunday. The raid was conducted by 38 teams in equal number of vehicles. The raid squad included nine teams from the police and was personally supervised by Excise Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh. Raids, which began from 5.30 am and lasted till afternoon, were mainly targeted on the migrant labour camps in Aluva, Perumbavoor, Angamaly and Muvattupuzha.
Half kilogram ganja, 3 gram heroine and 5 litres of liquor also were seized in the raid, said A.K. Narayanan Kutty, deputy commissioner of Excise. He said that the bulk of the tobacco-related products were seized from four godowns. A total of 31 persons were arrested in connection with the seizure. Labour camps and shops in the neighbouring area were also inspected.
The Excise official said that the raids were conducted in the light of the increased use of tobacco and other substances among migrant population. "The Central government has increased the statutory warning space on cigarette packets from 40 per cent to 85 per cent now and it will be strictly enforced," he said. The other senior officials in the raid included Zonal Joint Excise Commissioner D Santhosh and Assistant Commissioner Renjith A.S.
It is understood that the raid was conducted on Sunday after weeks of secret monitoring in these areas by special excise squads. Perumbavoor, which is known for its migrant labour camps in squalid conditions, was the focal point of the raid especially after the gruesome murder of Jisha by a migrant worker. Labour Commissioner Tom Jose too had recently made surprise checks at the labour camps.
