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

The police also seized Tartrazine (food colors) and machines, which would be used for preparing spurious 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 had worth Rs 22.5 lakhs.

Based on the inputs from a person, who was arrested by the police in Suryapet, the police conduct raids on spurious tea powder manufacturing units at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry. In the operation, 10 persons, who belong to Suryapet district and six persons, who belong to neighboring AP, have been detained by the police. During the investigation, it was discovered that another 24 persons were involved in the spurious tea powder marketing, he added.

He told that 45 quintals of spurious tea powder and two tins of Tartrazine(food color) were seized from the arrested persons.