45 quintals of fake tea powder seized, 16 held by CCS sleuths

Suryapet: In a joint operation, the sleuths of Central Crime Station (CCS) and Suryapet Town-I police station conducted raids in Suryapet in the State and Vijayawada and Rajahmundry of Andhra Pradesh and seized 45 quintals of fake tea powder and arrested 16 persons.

The police also seized Tartrazine (food colours) and machines, which would be used for preparing fake tea powder from their possession.

Presenting the arrested persons at a media conference held in District Police Office, Superintendent of Police Rajendra Prasad said that three police teams have conducted raids in Suryapet,



Vijayawada and Rajahmundry on Monday. They seized 45 quintals of spurious tea powder which was worth Rs 22.5 lakh.

Based on the inputs from a person who was arrested by the police in Suryapet, the police conduct raids on fake tea powder manufacturing units at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry. In the operation, 10 persons who belong to Suryapet district and six persons belonging to neighbouring AP, have been detained by the police.

During the investigation, it was found that another 24 persons were involved in the fake tea powder marketing, he added.