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Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
DRI searches for foreign cigarette importer after Chennai port seizure
Chennai: Two days after seizing a huge illegal consignment of foreign cigarettes worth 18.2 crore at Chennai port, the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI), Chennai, is on the hunt for the importer since the contraband was destined for cities such as Mumbai and Delhi. On Monday, based on intelligence, DRI sleuths held back a container that arrived at Chennai port from Dubai. Though the consignment was declared as bathroom and sanitary napkins, the container was found to have concealed 92.1 lakh cigarette sticks of foreign brands such as 'Manchester United Kingdom', 'Manchester United Kingdom Special Edition', and 'Mac Ice Superslims Cool Blast'. Since it was seized even before the clearance, the identity of the agent engaged by the smuggler could not be ascertained. However, sources said that the cigarettes would be dispatched to other cities in trucks for sales in those regions. DRI sources said that importing foreign cigarettes requires a licence under foreign trade policy, a licensed broker for clearance by customs, and compliance with pictorial warnings. Also, it attracts a basic customs duty of 100%, apart from 28% integrated GST and a social welfare charge of 10%. To avoid the duty as well as the pictorial warning compliance, the smugglers attempt to bring cigarettes disguised as some other goods which attract less duty. The main operators sit in Gulf countries and source foreign origin and counterfeit cigarettes from Southeast Asian countries to the Middle East, said DRI officials. TNN You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai
Mint
24-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
DRI seizes 92.1 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹18.2 cr
New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at about ₹ 18.2 crore, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. Acting on a specific intelligence that cigarettes of foreign origin are being smuggled into India from Dubai under the guise of "bathroom and sanitary fittings", the officers of DRI, Chennai Zonal Unit, held a container bound to J-Matadee FTWZ (Foreign Trade Warehouse Zone). Detailed examination revealed that the goods in the said container were mis-declared and it contained 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign origin cigarettes of various brands such as 'Manchester United Kingdom', 'Manchester United Kingdom Special Edition' and 'Mac Ice Superslims cool blast', instead of the declared goods. "In continuation of its fight against illegal smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a major operation, has seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at approximately ₹ 18.2 crore on June 23," the ministry said. Further, the cigarettes do not comply with the packaging and labelling requirements as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, including the absence of statutory health warnings. The contraband has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is under progress, the statement added.
Mint
24-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
DRI seizes 92.1 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹18.2 cr
PTI Published 24 Jun 2025, 05:23 PM IST New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at about ₹ 18.2 crore, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. Acting on a specific intelligence that cigarettes of foreign origin are being smuggled into India from Dubai under the guise of "bathroom and sanitary fittings", the officers of DRI, Chennai Zonal Unit, held a container bound to J-Matadee FTWZ (Foreign Trade Warehouse Zone). Detailed examination revealed that the goods in the said container were mis-declared and it contained 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign origin cigarettes of various brands such as 'Manchester United Kingdom', 'Manchester United Kingdom Special Edition' and 'Mac Ice Superslims cool blast', instead of the declared goods. "In continuation of its fight against illegal smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a major operation, has seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at approximately ₹ 18.2 crore on June 23," the ministry said. Further, the cigarettes do not comply with the packaging and labelling requirements as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, including the absence of statutory health warnings. The contraband has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is under progress, the statement added. In the past year alone, the DRI has seized a total of 4.4 crore sticks of both foreign origin and counterfeit cigarettes that were being smuggled through ports in Chennai. The value of these seized cigarettes is estimated at ₹ 79.67 crore.
