North Batinah  – Consumer Protection Authority (CPA ) in North  Batinah has seized more than 2,200 smokeless chewing tobacco products during a raid on a site allegedly used to manufacture, package and distribute banned items, in a major crackdown aimed at protecting public health and curbing illegal trade.

The operation was launched after officials received information indicating that expatriate workers were using the premises to sell and distribute smokeless chewing tobacco products in violation of applicable laws and regulations.

Following the completion of legal procedures and the necessary approvals from the competent authorities, inspectors raided the site and confiscated large quantities of prohibited products along with materials used in their preparation and packaging.

The seizure included 1,729 bags of Pan Bahar, 11 packs of chewing tobacco (Beel), 500 bags of chewing tobacco, 51kg of raw supari, 400 empty packaging bags and 1,000 bundles of packaging materials. In total, authorities confiscated more than 2,200 bags and packs of smokeless tobacco products.

Officials also recovered cash suspected to be proceeds from the sale of the banned products, reinforcing evidence of an illegal operation engaged in the distribution of goods that pose risks to consumer health and safety.

All seized items and the confiscated cash have been retained pending referral of the case to the Public Prosecution for further legal action against those involved.

The Consumer Protection Authority reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying market inspections and combating the circulation of prohibited products across the Sultanate. It also urged members of the public to report any illegal practices that could endanger consumer health and safety, stressing that public cooperation plays a key role in safeguarding consumer rights and strengthening regulatory enforcement.