In a major crackdown on the illegal sale and distribution of banned gutkha, Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch (Unit 6, Chembur) unearthed two godowns in Bhiwandi that stored a massive stock of prohibited tobacco products worth over Rs 1.14 crore. The raid, carried out late on October 3, followed crucial leads developed during an ongoing investigation into a gutkha smuggling network.

According to officers, the operation was conducted near a water tank on Mankoli Road in Bhiwandi’s Velegaon area. During the raid, police seized 158 large sacks of gutkha and tobacco mixtures, collectively valued at Rs 73.5 lakh.

In addition, six mobile phones, four transport vehicles including a truck and couple of tempos, and cash amounting to Rs 9,450 were also confiscated.

The total seizure is estimated at Rs 1.14 crore, officers said.

Eight individuals involved in the illegal trade were arrested from the spot.

The accused have been identified as

Sohail Idris Sheikh (22), driver

Rabi Ahmed Ijaz Ahmed Sheikh (23), driver,

Sahil Ramnath Wakchoure (27), supervisor,

Dipesh Dilip Jadhav (28), driver,

Hazrat Ali Shahzad Ali Shah (31), driver

Salman Kader Sheikh (35), porter

Suryabhan Paltu Prasad (36), porter

Mohammad Harish Islam Ali Shah (21).

The racket was exposed after one of the earlier arrested accused, Firoz Sheikh, revealed about the godown locations where the gutkhas were stored. The crime branch coordinated with the Narpoli Police to conduct the raid and nabbed the eight accused red-handed while they were loading gutkha into vehicles.

All the eight men were produced before a local court and have been remanded in police custody until Friday.

The operation was led by Police Inspector Bharat Ghone and his team. Officers said further investigations are underway to trace the larger network involved in the illegal manufacture and distribution of banned gutkha across Mumbai and Thane.

Source