Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ahmedabad has seized a container load of foreign brand cigarettes (Manchester and Mac Ice Brands) valued at Rs 33 crores (approx.) from Mundra Port on 19^th October 2022. This is the second seizure of container load of Cigarettes within a week, the earlier also being of Manchester brand of Cigarrettes.

Intelligence was received by DRI that a container destined to Mundra Port contains foreign brand cigarettes in the guise of declared goods “Readymade Garments”. The container was identified and tracked. On 19.10.2022 examination of container led to recovery of 772 cartons of Manchester brand cigarettes having about 77,20,000 sticks; 328 cartons of Mac Ice brand cigarettes having about 32,80,000 sticks; and 50 cartons of Royal Red variant of Manchester brand cigarettes having about 5,00,000 sticks. All the cigarettes valuing approx. Rs 33 crore have been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act. Further investigation is under progress.

This is the fifth major seizure of cigarettes/e-cigarettes by DRI Ahmedabad in this financial year. The total value of the seizures has exceeded Rs 135 crores. In April 2022, foreign brand cigarettes valued at Rs 17 crores were seized.  Two seizures of e-cigarettes valued at 68 crores were done in the month of September 2022. Earlier in this month, another container of foreign brand cigarettes worth Rs 17 crores was seized from Mundra port. These seizures are part of DRI operations to combat smuggling of cigarettes/e-cigarettes into the country.

  

 

YP/GP/JD

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