Perumbavoor: 4,000 kilograms of banned tobacco products were seized by excise department officials during a raid at the labour camps of migrant workers in Perumbavoor, Angamaly, Aluva and Muvattupuzha on Sunday.  

21 persons were taken into custody by the police for possessing banned drugs and narcotics. The raids, code-named 'Operation Bhai', were conducted under the supervision of Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh.

During the raid, which started at 6 am today, narcotic substances including ganja and brown sugar were also seized, the officials said.

 

The raids, targeting migrant workers allegedly involved in smuggling of banned tobacco substances, are being held simultaneously in their camps in eastern towns of Ernakulam district, they said.

The raids were carried out on a tip off about rampant drug abuse among workers in the area. The substances were reportedly transported from their native places in trains.