Zunheboto Range Students' Union destroys seized tobacco products

DIMAPUR — The Zunheboto Range Students' Union (ZRSU) conducted a public destruction of seized illicit tobacco products at the dumpsite in Lizu Naghuto, Zunheboto Sadar, on June 12.

The action followed a public notice issued by the union on June 11 in response to a notification dated June 2 from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare under the Commissioner of Food Safety, prohibiting the sale, storage, transportation, distribution, manufacture, and processing of tobacco products.

According to an update, the illicit products had been intercepted and seized in bulk from a transport truck on the evening of June 9 at New Colony and Project Colony under the jurisdiction of Zunheboto town. According to the union, the seized items were found blended with daily essential grocery items.

The destroyed consignment included 19 packages of tobacco products smuggled under the wholesaler names Sujit Kumar and Samuel and four packages from Ajmat Karim, owner of Ms. General Shop. The products were incinerated in the presence of the members of GBs' association and Sumi Totimi Loka, Zunheboto town.

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ZRSU highlighted that highly addictive nicotine severely harms organs, stuns brain development, and impacts students' academic growth. The union stated its advocacy of "No allowance of seized products into the market" to ensure illegal products do not compete with legitimate businesses and that the spoils of crime do not fund further illicit activities.