Gutkha ban on paper, black market thrives in Odisha!

Despite the Odisha government’s blanket ban on gutkha, tobacco and all nicotine-based products, illegal sales continue unabated across the State, exposing glaring gaps in enforcement. Taking advantage of weak ground-level monitoring, black marketers have stepped in to meet demand, selling banned gutkha sachets at inflated prices, often double or even triple their original cost.

OTV has uncovered clear evidence of this thriving illegal trade. From Balasore to Bhubaneswar and several other districts, shopkeepers are openly flouting the ban. A Rs 5 gutkha sachet is now being sold for Rs 10 or more, with traders citing supply shortages and high demand as justification.

"The district administration is not conducting regular raids. Gutkha is not being sold in one or two shops, but in hundreds of shops. Only serving notice is not enough. Mass awareness needs to be created," said Hritik Nayak, a resident of Balasore.

"Wholesale distributors have raised the price blatantly and as a result gutkha is being sold at inflated prices," said Rama Prasad Padhy, a betel shop owner in Jeypore.

Also Read: Gutkha ban! Odisha prohibits sale and distribution of nicotine-based products

The problem runs deeper than retail shops. Unscrupulous traders have allegedly stockpiled gutkha worth crores of rupees, creating an organised black-market network that exploits addicted consumers for massive profits. Acting on specific intelligence, the Commissionerate Police conducted raids in Bhubaneswar, including a major operation in the Kolathia area, where a warehouse stocked with large quantities of gutkha, zarda and pan masala was seized and sealed.

While these raids signal intent, questions remain about the overall effectiveness of the ban, which was announced just five days ago. Observations on the ground suggest that the prohibition exists largely on paper, with enforcement yet to create a meaningful deterrent.

This is not the first time Odisha has faced this challenge. Gutkha was initially banned in 2013, but black marketing continued then as well. Once again, the government has reiterated strict prohibitory orders and promised intensified inspections, yet the illegal trade persists.

Concerns are also being raised about cross-border smuggling. Border districts such as Gajapati and Koraput lie close to Andhra Pradesh, where gutkha and similar products are reportedly still available.

"Gajapati is a border district. Andhra Pradesh is only two km from here. It's important to take actions against the wholesalers and the factory owners," said Jagannath Mohapatra, a resident of Paralakhemundi. 

The Gajapati Superintendent of Police has said that enhanced surveillance and strict checks will be enforced along the borders to prevent illegal inflow.

"As gutkha has not been banned in Andhra Pradesh, there is a possibility that it will be brought to Odisha market. We have made the authorities of four police stations to actively patrol these areas frequently," said Gajapati SP Jatindra Kumar Panda. 

Beyond enforcement, the larger issue remains unaddressed and that is demand. Addiction continues to fuel the black market. The devastating health impact is evident in cases like that of Nabaghan Das of Puri, who battled mouth cancer after years of consuming gutkha, pan and bidi. Though he survived, his suffering stands as a grim reminder of the cost of addiction.

"Whoever is consuming tobacco, there is a 200 per cent chance that they will suffer from cancer. I was suffering from the fourth stage cancer and the doctors had warned me that I had a very small chance of survival. Somehow I survived by changing my lifestyle and shunning gutkha and pan," said a resident, Nabaghan Das.

Experts and activists warn that mere bans and sporadic raids will not suffice. Without sustained enforcement, dismantling supply chains, border vigilance and strong public health interventions to curb addiction, Odisha’s anti-gutkha campaign risks meeting the same fate as it did over a decade ago.

"Stern rules should be implemented to ban tobacco. Then I strongly believe that our youth will be completely free from tobacco consuming habit by 2036," said Cancer expert Dr Surendranath Senapati.