Three shops found selling banned tobacco products fined ₹2 lakh in Erode district

Three shops found selling banned tobacco products were fined a total of ₹2 lakh and had their licences cancelled during a joint enforcement drive carried out here on Monday (June 8, 2026). Acting on the directions of District Collector S. Kandasamy, officials conducted inspections in A. Sembulichampalayam and Anthiyur town in Anthiyur block, and in Bhavani, to check the illegal sale of prohibited tobacco products. The raids were carried out by the district-level tobacco control joint action committee under the leadership of the District Food Safety Officer G. Varalakshmi. During the inspections, officials identified three shops involved in the sale of banned tobacco products. Notices were issued to the shops, their licences were cancelled, and the establishments were subsequently sealed. The enforcement drive was undertaken jointly by the District Food Safety Designated Officer, the District Tobacco Control Cell Officer, Food Safety Officers and police personnel.