Unique operation conducted all over Delhi in a single day.....
Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has raided and slapped fines on 70 shop owners under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) for selling tobacco products near educational institutes in the Capital.
Special police commissioner (crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said, on Wednesday the raids were conducted under “Operation Kavach 4.0” based on Union home affairs and the lieutenant governor’s directives. He added they focused on identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of tobacco products near educational institutes.
“Our Anti-Narcotics Taskforce took action against these shops in the 100-metre vicinity of the schools as per the education department’s data. Joint action was planned simultaneously all over Delhi along with teams from the NCB to ensure action with an element of surprise. The purpose was to check not only the contraband substance being sold by the shops to school-going children but also taking stringent action against the violators for closure of such shops.”
Yadav said across the Delhi 31 areas were identified, where 70 vendors were found selling tobacco products within the 100-meter radius of the schools. “This was a unique operation conducted all over Delhi in a single day to give a strong message to such illegal vendor’s active near educational institutes.”
Yadav said undercover officers, surveillance, canine support, and intelligence gathering were involved in the joint operation. “Operation Kawach is primarily intended to save the children from the menace of drugs.”
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