DRI seizes 3 lakh e-cigarettes worth Rs 120 cr

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 3 lakh electronic cigarettes worth over Rs 120 crore in a crackdown on a smuggling racket across four Indian states.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 3 lakh electronic cigarettes/vapes worth Rs 120 crore in its crackdown operation against a smuggling racket across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal, the finance ministry said on Thursday.

These prohibited e-cigarettes were found to be sourced from China in every instance and imported concealed in items like furniture and metal chair parts, the ministry statement said.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI identified, tracked and intercepted multiple suspicious import consignments that were mis-declared to evade customs scrutiny.

Detailed examination led to the seizure of nearly 3 lakh electronic cigarettes/vapes of various brands, flavours and specifications valued at more than Rs 120 crore.

Electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019, enacted in the interest of public health and to protect people from harm.