Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Racket in Madhapur and Durgam Cheruvu, Three Held
The Telangana EAGLE Force, in coordination with Madhapur police, busted an organised racket selling banned electronic cigarettes from two commercial outlets in Madhapur and Durgam Cheruvu on Thursday, September 3, 2026. Law enforcement officers raided the stores following credible information that the prohibited nicotine delivery devices were being supplied to minors.
The enforcement teams targeted Smart Smoke, situated near Metro Pillar 1775 in Madhapur, and Smoke on Vibes, located near Metro Pillar 1745 in Durgam Cheruvu. During the search operations, officers confiscated 152 banned e-cigarettes, 34 packets of foreign cigarettes, and ₹9,500 in cash from the premises.
Police established that both outlets were owned by Aboobakar Siddiqui and Rameez, natives of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. Smart Smoke had been in operation for roughly two years, whereas Smoke on Vibes was established approximately two months ago. Alongside ordinary retail stock such as hookah pots, pipes, cigarettes, perfumes, and soft drinks, the establishments actively distributed banned vapes.
The operation relied heavily on digital channels to market and dispatch the contraband. The owners ran a dedicated website to promote and sell products, following up on customer orders via WhatsApp. Buyers received a QR code to complete payments and were instructed to share their delivery location, after which orders were dispatched directly to customers through bike taxi services.
Financial investigations conducted by the EAGLE Force revealed extensive turnover linked to the trade. Payments were routed into two separate bank accounts registered to Aboobakar Siddiqui, showing deposits of approximately ₹2.1 crore in one account and ₹21 lakh in the other over the past two years. Analysis of transaction records led investigators to identify 351 individuals who bought vapes, while inquiries confirmed around 130 direct consumers based in Hyderabad.
Three store employees were apprehended at the scene: 24-year-old Mohammed Raihan Khan, 25-year-old Mohammed Zubair, and 28-year-old Ashiq. Both proprietors, Siddiqui and Rameez, remain absconding. Police stated that legal action will also be taken against buyers and the management, employees, or delivery personnel of Porter and Rapido who aided in transporting the prohibited goods.
Cases have been registered at Madhapur police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act as investigations continue to trace the owners and dismantle the broader supply network.
