The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized nearly three lakh illegal electronic cigarettes and vapes worth more than Rs 120 crore in a major crackdown on an inter-state smuggling network operating through ports, airports and inland container depots across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.
According to the Finance Ministry, the operation was carried out over the past few days following specific intelligence inputs regarding suspicious import consignments.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence tracked and intercepted multiple consignments that were allegedly misdeclared to avoid customs scrutiny. Detailed examination of the cargo led to the recovery of electronic cigarettes of various brands, flavours and specifications.
Investigators found that the prohibited products had been sourced from China and concealed inside consignments declared as “Furniture” and “Metal Chair Parts”.
Electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The law prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes in the country.
The government enacted the legislation in 2019 citing public health concerns and the need to protect people, especially youth, from the harmful effects of nicotine addiction.
