Goa: Raids conducted at Goa Medical College premises

Panaji: Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) vicinity seems to be turning into a kiosk hub for unauthorized consignments of cigarettes, beedis, and tobacco. Raids conducted in Bambolim recently have unearthed these consignments which surfaced within a radius of 100 yards violating the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).

The (COPTA) act prohibits the sale of tobacco products within a 100m radius of any educational institution.

The raids were carried out by the Tiswadi taluka enforcement squad for COTPA, 2003; while inspections were carried out by joint mamlatdars, FDA officers and GOACAN members in the presence of the police.

Three cases under Section 6 of the Act and 10 under Section 4 were booked. Fines of Rs.2,600 were collected; 500 pouches of scented tobacco and a large number of Indian and foreign cigarette packs without proper pictorial warnings were seized.

Five kiosks of the 14 searched were discovered without licenses.

Foods like sandwiches and burgers were also recovered by the food safety officers who found them to be without proper labeled declarations.