The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized banned pan masala, flavoured tobacco and other prohibited food products, along with vehicles used for their transportation, worth around Rs 2.69 crore in raids conducted across Thane and Palghar districts on Friday and Saturday.
The action was carried out as part of a special campaign against the illegal transportation, storage and sale of pan masala, flavoured tobacco and similar prohibited food products in Maharashtra.
Rs 1.01 crore seizure in Thane Zone-10
In Thane Zone-10, FDA officials received information on Friday that an Eicher truck allegedly carrying prohibited food products would pass through the Yewai Bridge area.
Based on the information, FDA officials, with the assistance of Crime Branch Sub-Inspector Shivaji Zhanjurne and other police personnel, intercepted and searched the vehicle bearing registration number MH-18-BZ-4528.
Officials found 27,540 packets of Premium Raj Niwas Pan Masala valued at Rs 55.08 lakh and 27,540 packets of ZN-01 Zafrani Zarda valued at Rs 26.43 lakh. The total value of the prohibited food products was Rs 81.51 lakh.
The truck, estimated to be worth Rs 20 lakh, was also seized, taking the total value of the food products and vehicle seized in the action to Rs 1,01,51,840.
A first information report (FIR) was registered at Bhiwandi Taluka Police Station under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Palghar raid leads to seizure worth Rs 63.5 lakh
In Palghar Zone-01, FDA officials carried out a raid at Charoti toll naka in Dahanu taluka on Friday and Saturday against the transportation and storage of prohibited food products for sale.
The FDA found the alleged involvement of vehicle driver Firoz Khaja Mia Sayyed and six other accused persons.
Prohibited food products valued at Rs 43.5 lakh were seized, along with an Eicher closed-body truck bearing registration number TG12U4371, estimated to be worth Rs 20 lakh.
The total value of the prohibited food products and vehicle seized was Rs 63.5 lakh.
The FDA said the products were being transported and stored with the intention of selling them. An FIR was registered at Kasa Police Station in Dahanu taluka on Saturday under the relevant sections of the BNS, along with sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The police have been directed to investigate the transportation, storage and sale of the prohibited products and their organised nature and to examine whether the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) is applicable. They have also been asked to take necessary action in accordance with the Food Safety Commissioner's order dated June 12, 2026.
Thane Zone-07 seizure valued at Rs 1.04 crore
In another action in Thane Zone-07 on Friday, FDA officials acted against the transportation of prohibited food products.
An FIR was registered against Vinay Sharma, a resident of Sonarpada, Dombivli East. Based on information provided by an accused in the case, Mohammed Rafiq Rati Khan, 31, was arrested in the same case.
Prohibited food products valued at Rs 84.28 lakh and a vehicle valued at Rs 20 lakh were seized, taking the total value of the seizure in the action to Rs 1,04,28,020.
The FDA also stated that, including the earlier action, the total seizure value in the case stands at Rs 1,14,13,580. This earlier seizure value is part of the same case and is not added separately to the overall Rs 2,69,29,860 seizure from the three actions.
The FIR was registered at Khadakpada Police Station on September 29 under the relevant sections of the BNS, along with sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Across the three actions in Thane Zone-10, Palghar Zone-01 and Thane Zone-07, prohibited food products and vehicles worth a total of Rs 2,69,29,860 were seized, according to the Maharashtra FDA.
The food safety authority further stated that its action against the illegal transportation, storage and sale of banned pan masala, flavoured tobacco and similar prohibited food products will continue through special drives and enforcement measures.
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