Hyderabad Police have busted a banned e-cigarette racket run under the name “Smoke Vault” at Nanal Nagar in Gudimalkapur. Police apprehended six persons in the operation, including the main accused, Abdullah Arshed.
The Commissioner’s Task Force, Golconda Zone, and the Gudimalkapur Police carried out a joint raid on the Smoke Vault store at Gandam Complex, near Olive Hospitals. Along with Arshed, police took five workers into custody.
Police seized a large quantity of banned e-cigarettes and OCB rolling papers. They also recovered seven mobile phones, two Paytm swiping machines and a Suzuki Access two-wheeler allegedly used to supply the prohibited products. The total value of the seized property is estimated at Rs. 7,06,800.
According to police, Arshed had earlier worked in the chocolates and hookah products business in Kerala. After a stint in Dubai, he moved to Hyderabad and set up Smoke Vault outlets at Nanal Nagar, Gudimalkapur and Madhapur.
Police said Arshed allegedly teamed up with a Dubai-based friend, identified as Shareef, to procure banned e-cigarettes in bulk. The products were then sold illegally in Hyderabad through his workers. Shareef is reportedly absconding, and efforts are on to trace him.
A case has been registered at Gudimalkapur Police Station as Crime No. 376/2026 under Section 223 of the BNS and Sections 4 and 7 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The operation was supervised by Inspector M. Mahesh of the Task Force, Golconda Zone, along with SI G. Vijayanand and the Gudimalkapur Police team. Police said further investigation is underway to identify the supply network and others involved.
