Mumbai : 17 July 2025

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, has foiled a major attempt to smuggle foreign-origin cigarettes into the country. Acting on precise intelligence, DRI officers intercepted a consignment at Nhava Sheva Port and seized a container holding 1,014 cartons of TOP GUN brand cigarettes—totalling 1,01,40,000 sticks and valued at ₹ 13.18 crore.

The smugglers have imported cigarettes by declaring the cargo as “coated calcium carbonate” to make it appear as a genuine import and mislead the officials. One person responsible for the import has been arrested by DRI officials and has been remanded to fourteen days judicial custody by the Hon’ble Court.

   

The importation was in clear violation of the Customs Act, 1962 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2008, as amended by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare notification dated 26 March 2018. The consignment has been seized as per the provisions of Customs Act.

The smuggling of foreign-origin cigarettes not only results in substantial revenue loss to the Government and distorts fair competition in the domestic tobacco industry, but also poses a serious threat to public health. These illicit cigarettes often evade statutory compliance with health and safety regulations, including those mandated under the COTPA Act, such as pictorial warnings and content disclosures. As a result, consumers—especially youth and economically vulnerable groups—are exposed to unregulated and potentially more harmful products.

The DRI is committed to combat such smuggling and disrupt criminal syndicates causing harm to public health and safety.

Source: DRI MZU

 

Nikita Joshi/Preeti Malandkar

 

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