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Ras Al Khaimah: A soap distribution company which was found to be a key supplier of betel leaves (paan) and niswar has been closed by the municipality and fined Dh10,000. The company had been supplying stores across the emirate with the illegal products.
Paan and niswar are banned in the UAE for environmental reasons. Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director-General of RAK Municipality said municipal inspectors found receipts detailing the sale of the products to numerous grocery stores.
Al Shamsi said the products had been appearing in stores and municipal inspectors had seized large quantities. Schoolchildren had been found to be using the products.
He added that an Indian owner of a grocery store had tipped-off municipal inspectors. Municipal investigations showed the company had been bringing in the products from another emirate. He said RAK Municipality will coordinate efforts with its counterparts in the UAE to find the growers of the plants.
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