Police arrest 18 men for working in illegal tobacco factory outside Sharjah

Authorities seize 64,000 bags of tobacco from the factory in Al Dhaid

Authorities seized 64,000 bags of neswar, a banned chewing tobacco, from a factory in Al Dhaid.

Police arrested 18 Asian men for working in an illegal tobacco factory in Al Dhaid, outside Sharjah.

Al Dhaid Police officers and municipality inspectors were tipped off about the factory on a farm in the area.

On Monday, authorities said they seized 64,000 bags of naswar, a banned chewing tobacco.

Using naswar is more injurious to health than smoking and can cause different kinds of cancers, kidney and heart diseases.

Officers also confiscated 15,000 kilograms of tobacco leaves, raw materials and machines.

“Authorities received a tip-off about illegal activities at one of the farms in the eastern Wishah area,” said Salim Al Tunaiji, head of operations at Al Dhaid city municipality.

“Once it was confirmed that suspicious activities were being carried out at the farm, we followed legal procedures and raided on March 22.”

He said the men tried to escape and hide in nearby mountains but were arrested.

“We conduct regular inspections on hundreds of farms in the area to ensure that no illegal activities are being carried out,” Mr Al Tunaiji said.