Ahmedabad: Sarkhej Police on Wednesday night busted an illegal hookah operation being run secretly at Brew Roast Café on SG Highway. The establishment was found serving nicotine-laced hookahs without proper licenses or authorization. Police seized flavored tobacco, hookah equipment, and other items worth over ₹35,000.

Acting on a tip-off, Sarkhej police raided Brew Roast Café, located near the YMCA Club on SG Highway. The raid revealed that an illegal hookah bar was operating inside the café. Customers were reportedly visiting the premises specifically to smoke hookah. In total, hookah equipment and related materials worth ₹35,809 were confiscated.

It is learnt that the café was being managed by 22-year-old Habib Ahmed from Assam. The premises had been rented by a man identified as Justin Perera from Anand. Both have been apprehended. However, three individuals involved in running the illegal hookah business — Divyarajsinh Chavda and Vinay Tiwari from Gandhinagar, along with Hamid from Sarkhej — are currently absconding.

The café allegedly disguised nicotine hookahs as herbal ones to evade detection. Police have launched a deeper investigation into the matter. DeshGujarat