Hyderabad police seize 46 vapes at SmokinSpot and probe Kerala and Karnataka supply
Telangana EAGLE Force and Raidurgam police arrested a SmokinSpot outlet manager, seized 46 vapes and traced WhatsApp orders delivered by Rapido, with suppliers suspected in Kerala and Karnataka.
Key points
- Telangana EAGLE Force and Raidurgam police seized 46 vapes from SmokinSpot and arrested the outlet manager.
- Police estimate about 107 devices were sold through the outlet in October and November 2026 at ₹2,800 to ₹4,000 each.
- Investigators have identified suppliers in Kerala and Karnataka and are examining payment and delivery records.
- The EAGLE Force says its statewide crackdown has produced 11 cases, 18 arrests and 1,619 boxes of vapes seized.
- The 2019 Act bans online sale and distribution, and the Union health ministry restated that ban in a 22 January 2025 advisory.
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Telangana’s EAGLE Force and Raidurgam police arrested a SmokinSpot outlet manager and seized 46 vapes, saying the shop took orders on WhatsApp and delivered them through Rapido riders.
Officers also seized 49 packets of foreign cigarettes, two mobile phones and two payment scanners from the outlet. Police put the alleged selling price at ₹2,800 to ₹4,000 per device.
Officers estimate 107 devices were sold in October and November 2026
Investigators say customers paid in cash or digitally and received the products through app-based delivery. Police are now checking payment records and the delivery network.
The probe has identified suppliers in Kerala and Karnataka. Investigators are examining whether the racket connects to a wider illegal trade they estimate at more than ₹10 crore, a figure the police describe as still under examination.
Three Hyderabad operations in two months show a repeat pattern
Police describe WhatsApp ordering and app-based delivery in more than one case, not only at SmokinSpot.
| Operation | Date | Seizure | Arrests | Other figures cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sainikpuri outlet | 27 October | 39 e-cigarettes, one payment scanner, three mobile phones | Two suspects | About 45 customers in Hyderabad; 26 deliveries since 3 August |
| Two outlets, Madhapur police | September | Not stated | Three employees | ₹2.3 crore credited to two linked accounts over about two years; 351 buyers identified, 130 in Hyderabad |
| SmokinSpot, Raidurgam police | Reported 12 November | 46 vapes, 49 packets of foreign cigarettes, two phones, two payment scanners | One outlet manager | About 107 devices sold in October and November 2026; price ₹2,800–₹4,000 each |
The EAGLE Force says its statewide crackdown has produced 11 cases and 18 arrests, with 1,619 boxes of vapes seized and 21 people still absconding.
The 2019 ban covers online sales, and the health ministry repeated that in 2025
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 bars production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising of e-cigarettes. The Union health ministry restated the prohibition on online sales in an advisory on 22 January 2025 and asked states to act against sellers using e-commerce sites, mobile applications and other internet-based platforms.
Police have not said which products the 46 seized devices were, or where they were manufactured. The investigation is also looking at suspected international supply routes.
Couriers and delivery platforms sit inside the enforcement perimeter
Each of the described operations moved product to the buyer through a rider or a digital payment, which puts the last mile in the same evidence chain as the shop. Police say they are examining delivery records to establish who played which role.
For distributors and exporters in the Shenzhen supply chain, the cases show that Indian enforcement is following payment and courier trails back through state lines, so any shipment route into India that surfaces in a delivery record becomes part of a case file. Analysis: paperwork showing a lawful destination market matters more than a purchase order when a consignment can be traced to a retail outlet in a ban jurisdiction. What happens next depends on the Raidurgam investigation; police have not announced charges or a court date.
Questions readers ask
Is selling e-cigarettes online in India prohibited?
Yes. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 bans sale and distribution of e-cigarettes, and the Union health ministry's advisory of 22 January 2025 asked states to act against sellers using e-commerce sites, mobile applications and other internet-based platforms.
How many vapes were seized at SmokinSpot in Hyderabad?
Police seized 46 vapes from the SmokinSpot outlet, along with 49 packets of foreign cigarettes, two mobile phones and two payment scanners.
Sources
18+ only. This site is for adult readers and provides news and information only. It is not medical, legal or purchase advice. Nicotine is addictive. Always check the official text of any regulation in your market. Health Information
