Panaji: Gutka Pouches Worth Rs 10 Lac Seized in Goa
Panaji, June 4 (IANS) The food and drugs administration (FDA) department of Goa Saturday arrested a couple and seized nearly Rs.1 million worth gutka pouches from them, police said.
The couple, identified as Ravindra Matkar and Rohini Matkar, were arrested from Bethora, an industrial town 30 km from here.
"We seized gutka worth Rs.9.84 lakh from them. They source the pouches (of gutka) from neighbouring states, smuggle them into Goa and then sell these at a premium," said Salim Velji, director of FDA here.
"Ravindra Matkar has been arrested nearly five times under the FDA Act," the official said, adding that sale and advertisement of the addictive tobacco product has been banned in Goa under the Public Health Act.