Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ma. Subramanian, announced that drugs worth ₹10.87 crore have been seized across the state over the past nine months. The minister shared this information during a drug-free awareness marathon event organized near Chennai’s Island Grounds, which was jointly hosted by the Indian Leather Export Council, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, and the Chennai City Police.

Minister Subramanian flagged off the marathon aimed at promoting a drug-free society and distributed prizes to the winners. In his speech, he emphasized that since 2013, the Tamil Nadu government has banned nicotine-laced food products. Enforcement teams, comprising 391 groups of food safety and police officers, have been conducting inspections and taking action across the state.

He highlighted that banned substances such as gutka and pan masala are regularly seized during these operations. Between November last year and July 15, inspections were conducted at 3,06,157 shops, warehouses, and vehicles across Tamil Nadu. As a result, 19,822 shops selling banned substances like gutka and pan masala were sealed.

In total, 1,32,890 kilograms of gutka and other narcotics, valued at ₹10.87 crore, were seized during these operations, according to the minister.

In a subsequent press conference, Minister Subramanian further discussed the state’s efforts to combat drug abuse, stressing the importance of maintaining public health and safety through such crackdowns.
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