Abu Dhabi: Nearly 500 kilograms of chewing tobacco, commonly known as niswar, have been confiscated from an unlicensed processing plant in Mussafah area, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City said on Wednesday.

The tobacco, which was seized by municipal inspectors during a recent campaign to combat unsafe practices, was transferred to an incinerator to be destroyed.

Jasem Al Daheri, head of industrial area operations at the municipality, urged residents to report any activities that pose a threat to public health and safety.

“The municipal checks revealed that the niswar was being produced in a makeshift facility that was itself constructed in an unsafe manner without any licensing by the required authorities. In addition, niswar is made with materials such as limestone that could be poisonous if not handled correctly” Al Dhaheri said.

The municipality has previously issued warnings against the use of niswar due to its health risks.

Doctors also told Gulf News that prolonged chewing causes the chemicals in niswar to irritate the mucosal lining in the mouth, leading to mouth cancers.

“These cancers are often painless, and do not show any symptoms for a long while. When the symptoms do appear, such as a lump or thickening lips, it is often at a later stage when the cancer is more difficult to cure,” explained Dr Nimmi George, a dentist at Lifeline Hospital in the capital.

“In addition, chewing tobacco leads to persistent bad breath. Users also tend to spit in undesignated areas, which is very unhygienic and unsightly,” Dr George added.

Because the tobacco itself is addictive, frequent users find it difficult to give up the habit.

“The most effective thing is to create awareness among people who use chewing tobacco,” the dentist recommended.

As Gulf News reported earlier, two shops licensed as electronics and mobile phone traders were last year found to be trading in niswar. Such offences can result in hefty fines for the violators, and repeat offenders can even be jailed.

In addition, spitting in streets and public places is also punishable with a fine of Dh100, which is implemented by the municipality.