New Delhi, May 21: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a large-scale smuggling racket involving banned electronic cigarettes and vaping devices during coordinated operations conducted across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.
According to officials, the crackdown was carried out over the past few days at several ports, airports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) after the DRI received specific intelligence inputs regarding suspicious import consignments entering the country.
During the operation, DRI officers tracked and intercepted multiple shipments that had allegedly been deliberately mis-declared in an attempt to evade customs scrutiny. Upon detailed examination, authorities seized nearly 3,00,000 electronic cigarettes and vaping devices of different brands, flavours and specifications. The total value of the seized products has been estimated at more than ₹120 crore.
Investigators found that the prohibited products were imported from China and concealed inside consignments falsely labelled as “Furniture” and “Metal Chair Parts” to avoid detection by customs authorities. Officials stated that 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. The law was enacted to safeguard public health and protect citizens, especially young people, from the harmful effects of nicotine addiction and vaping products.
The DRI said further investigations are underway to trace the individuals, importers and networks involved in the illegal smuggling operation.
