Police bust interstate vape supply network in Hyderabad, man arrested

A 28-year-old man was arrested for selling banned e-cigarettes and foreign cigarettes through an outlet in Raidurgam, with investigators suspecting that the shop was part of a wider interstate supply network involving online orders and doorstep deliveries.

The accused has been identified as Aboobacker Siddique, a native of Kerala, who worked as the manager of Smokin Spot in Raidurgam and was staying at a private hostel in Madhapur. Police seized 46 e-cigarettes, 49 packets of foreign cigarettes, two mobile phones and two digital payment scanners from the outlet. The owner, Mohammed Shareef, and a suspected supplier, Arshad, both natives of Kerala, are being traced.

According to investigators, Shareef appointed Siddique as the manager in March 2026 on a monthly salary of ₹25,000. Nihad Ahmed, a native of Karnataka, had been working at the outlet and allegedly trained Siddique before leaving after about a month. Arshad was identified as a supplier of e-cigarettes to the shop and is currently absconding.

The investigation revealed that customers were informed about the availability of different vape brands through WhatsApp messages. A mobile number was allegedly used exclusively for business communications and coordinating orders. Payments were collected through digital scanners linked to bank accounts, as well as cash and UPI transactions at the outlet. Deliveries were allegedly arranged through Rapido.

The outlet reportedly sold around 107 e-cigarettes during October and November, at prices ranging from ₹2,800 to ₹4,000 depending on their puff capacity. Investigators are examining the seized mobile phones, payment scanners and financial records to identify customers, suppliers and others involved in the trade.

The possible use of multiple retail outlets, transportation services and digital payment channels is also being examined. The suspected involvement of delivery platforms such as Rapido, Porter and Uber is under investigation, though the knowledge or involvement of individual platforms and delivery personnel is yet to be established.

The State-wide enforcement drive against the illegal trade has so far resulted in 11 cases, 18 arrests and 21 persons being reported absconding, with around 1,619 boxes of e-cigarettes seized. Further investigation is underway to trace the absconding supplier, establish the source of procurement and identify those financing and facilitating the trade.