: Mumbai, May 14, 2023

Based on specific intelligence, Department of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai identified a container suspected of carrying contraband, at Nhava Sheva Port. The container was supposed to be trans-shipped to Arshiya Free Trade Warehousing Zone for further clearance. Discrete vigil was kept on the movement of the said container by the officers of DRI. It was found that, after the container left the port, instead of reaching its destination, the same was diverted to a private godown while it was en route to Arshiya FTWZ. Officers monitoring the movement of the said container immediately sensed the suspicious activities and intercepted the container at the godown. The entire 40 feet container was found to be stuffed with foreign-origin cigarettes which are banned for import into India due to their non compliance with Indian standards. The syndicate had planned to smuggle those cigarettes by way of removing them out from the container and replacing the same with goods declared in import documents in order to hoodwink Custom Authorities. The godown was already stocked with the declared goods which were supposed to be stuffed in the container after removing the cigarettes, before the container was taken into Arshiya FTZ.

Total 1.07 Cr sticks of foreign origin cigarettes of Esse, Dunhill, Mond and Gudang Garam brands were recovered from the imported container. In a swift follow-up operation, another stash of 13 lakh Cigarettes of foreign origin of various brands like Esse lights, Mond which were smuggled earlier by the same syndicate were seized from another godown.

A total of 1.2 Cr sticks of foreign origin cigarattes having estimated market value of about Rs. 24 Cr have been seized by DRI.

Five persons including the importer have been arrested till date. DRI has been constantly engaged in busting such designs of smuggling syndicates smuggling contrabands, misusing SEZ and FTWZ schemes, thereby protecting government revenue and also protecting society from harmful effects of illicit tobacco.

Further investigation is in progress.

**** 

SC/PK Source: DRI Mumbai

Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai  pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai

(Release ID: 1924002) Visitor Counter : 393