Police and health officials joined forces to seize thousands of illegally-stored cigarettes and food products during a swoop in Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Municipality's public health division teamed up with the emirate's department of economic development and police to carry out a raid at an electrical contracting firm after receiving a tip-off about illegal activity taking place on the premises. Officers discovered a mountain of food stocks, including eight rice sacks weighing 285kg each, 96 bottles of soft drinks and 45kg of lentils. “Around 17,180 boxes of cigarettes of unknown origin and 235.142kg of betel leaves, known as paan, were also found illegally stored at the facility,” said the municipality in the statement. The public health division confiscated and destroyed the products and action is being taken against the company involved. “A deterrent punishment was imposed so that it becomes an example for those who seek to transgress the applicable laws and regulations whether in the emirate or the country,” said the municipality.