Police, FSOs complicit in tobacco release: AOM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 30 2025: Armour of Manipur (AOM) has accused food safety officers (FSOs) and police of striking a deal with owners of banned tobacco products including Talab, and releasing a consignment earlier seized in a drive on April 23 and slated for disposal.

In a press meet held at Manipur Press Club here on Wednesday, AOM vice president Ningthoujam Rita recounted that on April 23 around 9 am, Meira Pai-bi members of Maharabi and Tendonyang detained a truck, which was heading from Dimapur toward Imphal, found transporting 386 cartoons/packets of tobacco products including Talab.

She said the seized items were handed over to Sekmai PS and the case handled by a state food safety officer who assured of disposing the seized items in front of the public after completing the formalities.

She continued that the insurance and pollution card of the truck were found expired, and there were no GST document, e-way bill or tax invoice for the items confiscated.

Despite being aware of these, the police and some of the food safety officers allegedly conspired and released the truck along with the seized items on the night of April 24.This is extremely unfortunate, she said and appealed to the authorities or parties concerned to take legal action against the officers involved.

Rita then urged all concerned to stop bringing in such illegal carcinogenic substances into the state and to stop selling and consuming the same.

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