SANKHALI: The department of food and drugs administration (FDA) seized mangoes weighing 4.5 tonne, worth around Rs 90,000, in a raid at Jogiwada near Bicholim industrial estate on Saturday. The raid was conducted as the mangoes were stored for letting artificial ripening of the fruit using a chemical.
According to officials, an unknown person had informed them about the illegality happening in the area. The officials found that mangoes were stored in two rented rooms by a person named Jafar and a chemical was used for ripening the fruit. The entire stock was seized by the officials and the chemical used was also found.
A team comprising Raju Korade, Richard Noronha, Mahadev Kavlekar and Ankita Bhalekar carried out the raid.
The officials informed that such raids were also conducted at Mapusa and Siolim and the drive will continue in order to prevent the sale of such chemically-ripened mangoes which are injurious to health.