Nagpur: In a major crackdown, the Crime Branch teams conducted a raid at the Texas Smoke Shop operating in the city, seizing a large quantity of illegal hookah flavours, e-cigarettes, and hookah pots, police said on Wednesday, May 28.

The operation revealed that the smoke shop, falling under the jurisdiction of Wathoda Police Station, was storing the banned products in a warehouse owned by the shop’s proprietor.

Upon further investigation, the team raided the warehouse as well and confiscated a significant stockpile of prohibited tobacco-related items. The shop and warehouse are reportedly owned by Ashish Sahu, the proprietor of the Texas brand. Action has been initiated against him under relevant sections of the law.

Police officials confirmed that the raid was carried out based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the illegal sale and storage of banned tobacco products, especially targeting the youth. Further investigation is underway.