Chennai, 24 June 2025: In a major crackdown on smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes worth approximately ₹18.2 crore in Chennai, in an operation conducted on 23 June 2025. The consignment, misdeclared as “Bathroom and sanitary fittings,” was intercepted at the J-Matadee Free Trade and Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) by officials of the DRI Chennai Zonal Unit.
The action was based on specific intelligence that a container arriving from Dubai was being used to illegally smuggle cigarettes into India, bypassing regulatory controls and tax duties.
Misdeclaration and Brands Involved
Upon detailed examination, it was found that the container, declared to contain sanitary fittings, was in fact packed with illegally-imported foreign cigarette brands. The smuggled cigarettes included:
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Manchester United Kingdom
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Manchester United Kingdom Special Edition
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Mac Ice Superslims Cool Blast
These cigarettes were grossly misdeclared, and the operation reveals a sophisticated smuggling modus operandi involving false documentation and strategic port use.
Violation of Tobacco Laws and Customs Act
The seized cigarettes also fail to comply with India’s tobacco control laws, specifically the provisions under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. The packets did not display the mandatory statutory health warnings, making their distribution and sale illegal in the country.
The entire consignment has been seized under the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is currently underway to trace the handlers, recipients, and the broader network behind the smuggling operation.
Ongoing Anti-Smuggling Efforts in Chennai by DRI
This is not an isolated incident. Over the past year alone, DRI officials in Chennai have seized approximately 4.4 crore sticks of foreign-origin and counterfeit cigarettes, cumulatively valued at around ₹79.67 crore. These seizures highlight the growing use of Indian ports for tobacco smuggling, often concealed under misleading cargo declarations.
The Chennai Zonal Unit of the DRI continues to remain vigilant and is enhancing intelligence coordination, port surveillance, and compliance checks to dismantle such illicit smuggling syndicates operating across international borders.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
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