Telangana EAGLE Force Arrests Two Men for Supplying E-Cigarettes to Minors

The Telangana EAGLE Force has arrested two 21-year-old men for allegedly running an illicit network supplying banned e-cigarettes to minors in Hyderabad, following an investigation that began after teenagers were spotted vaping near FDDI on Pawwa Road in Raidurgam.

According to EAGLE Force Director Sandeep Shandilya, the enforcement action was initiated after a complaint accompanied by a video was received on X (formerly Twitter). The video showed a group of suspected minors allegedly using e-cigarettes in the Raidurgam area on July 2.

During subsequent enquiries, the EAGLE Force identified four boys aged between 15 and 17 and confiscated two e-cigarettes from them. When the minors were counselled, they told officials that two of their minor acquaintances had provided them with the vaping devices.

Investigators tracked the distribution trail to 21-year-old Arsalan Sharief of Musheerabad. Officials apprehended Sharief on Tuesday and recovered 11 e-cigarettes from his possession. The seized products included seven Yuoto YuoLo, three Gunnpod Air, and one Elf Bar Rayadi.

The probe established that Sharief allegedly procured the banned devices through cash-on-delivery orders placed on websites such as Vape India, Pod India, and Podkits. He ordered batches of at least five e-cigarettes at a time, paying between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500 per unit.

Sharief then allegedly used his associate, 21-year-old Mudasir Mujahid of Tolichowki, to supply the e-cigarettes to two minor boys, charging approximately Rs 2,000 for each device.

In total, the EAGLE Force seized 13 e-cigarettes—comprising seven Yuoto YuoLo, three Gunnpod Air, two Hatati Pro Ultra, and one Elf Bar Rayadi—along with two mobile phones used by the accused.