Andhra Pradesh: Transit point for gutkha

Vijayawada: In the last one and a half year, a large quantity of gutkha was seized in Vijayawada. With the city being the transit point for every geographical zone, gutkha too is travelling through the same zone. It is learnt that a major portion of gutkha is coming from the north eastern states and some of the northern states, as per the report of vigilance department. The contraband is either found in buses or trains. During a recent raid, the vigilance officials found gutkha being transported through bus. When the smugglers were shifting the same from a bus to an auto, the vigilance staff took the smugglers into custody.

According to sources, Vijayawada city has become a transit point for smuggling of gutkha. The vigilance department is finding new persons involved in the illegal trade which means somebody else is running the network and supplying manpower for it. There are allegations that someone having close contacts with an MLA is running the illegal trade. There is buzz that they are trying to make gutkha locally.