Kochi | Excise sleuths seized 26,750 packets of banned tobacco products worth around Rs 27 lakh from Perumbavoor here, officials said on Saturday.

The tobacco products were seized from two godowns near the lorry stand in Perumbavoor on Friday, they said.

The seizure was made as part of a follow-up investigation into the recent seizure of a large quantity of banned tobacco products in Kottayam, officials said.

The two godowns were allegedly being operated as cattle-feed storage facilities, they said.

Acting on confidential information, Excise officials reached the premises and found both godowns locked.

After breaking open the locks and conducting an inspection, the officials found a large quantity of banned tobacco products, including pan masala, they said.

The Excise department has not yet established who was stocking the banned tobacco products in the godowns.

However, two natives of Thiruvananthapuram are suspected to be involved, officials said.

The investigation is continuing, and officials are gathering more details, they said.