MARGAO, Jan. 29 -- Team Herald

Police in South Goa ramped up enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), booking 5,224 cases in 2024, a sharp rise from the 3,924 cases registered in 2023.

Despite the law restricting the sale of tobacco within 100 yards of educational institutions, Margao resident Sandeep Pednekar noted that enforcement gaps remain. "Sale of cigarettes and vapes continue. Display boards prohibiting tobacco sales to minors are required at points of sale and outside educational institutions, but it appears that very few have complied," he said.

Data reveals that in 2023, police stations in South Goa had booked 1,938 cases by May, significantly up from 1,206 cases during the same period in 2022. B...