Telangana EAGLE Force Arrests Two Men for Supplying E-Cigarettes to Minors
The Telangana EAGLE Force has cracked down on the illegal supply of e-cigarettes to minors in Hyderabad, apprehending two 21-year-old men following a complaint about teenagers vaping near FDDI on Pawwa Road in Raidurgam. Officials seized a total of 13 e-cigarette devices and two mobile phones, exposing an online procurement and distribution network that targeted teenagers.
According to EAGLE Force Director Sandeep Shandilya, the investigation began after the force received a complaint via X, formerly known as Twitter. The post included a video recorded on July 2 showing a group of suspected minor boys using e-cigarettes in the Raidurgam area.
Following up on the tip, enforcement officials identified four boys between the ages of 15 and 17 and recovered two e-cigarettes from their possession. During counselling sessions, the teenagers disclosed that two of their minor acquaintances had provided them with the vaping devices.
Investigators tracked the distribution trail back to Arsalan Sharief, 21, a resident of Musheerabad. EAGLE Force officials apprehended Sharief on Tuesday and recovered 11 e-cigarettes from him. The devices seized from his possession included seven Yuoto YuoLo, three Gun Pod Air, and one Elf Bar Rayadi.
The inquiry revealed that Sharief allegedly procured the banned products online through cash-on-delivery orders. Officials identified portals such as Vape India, Pod India, and Podkits as the platforms used to source the inventory. Sharief reportedly ordered batches of at least five devices at a time, paying between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500 for each unit.
Sharief then allegedly worked with an associate, Mudasir Mujahid, 21, from Tolichowki, to supply the e-cigarettes to two minor boys. The devices were sold to the teenagers at an inflated rate of around Rs 2,000 per unit.
In total, the EAGLE Force confiscated 13 banned e-cigarettes, comprising seven Yuoto YuoLo, three Gunnpod Air, two Hatati Pro Ultra, and one Elf Bar Rayadi, along with the two mobile phones used in the operation.
