12.22 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 2 crore seized by Delhi Customs

     New Delhi, January 21, 2024: On a tip off Delhi Customs seized Rs 2 crore worth of foreign make cigarettes, which were illegally imported or smuggled and stored in various places.

     Total numbers 12.22 lakh sticks of various brands like ESSE, Mond, Dunhill, Davidoff, Gudang Garam, Platinum Seven etc have been seized by the Delhi Customs Preventive. On preliminary scrutiny, on the basis of seized cigarettes, the value of these seized goods is around Rs. 2 crore and the exact valuation of the goods is underway, official sources said.

     During investigation, it came to light that the activity of illegal import, storage and supply of various brands of foreign-origin cigarettes was stored in two shops and three godowns in Katra Bariyan, Nayabans and Delhi-06 localitties.

     The cigarette packets were without any specified statutory health warnings on the packets, otherwise taxable under the Customs Act, 1962. It is suspected that these cigarettes were imported illegally, evading Customs duty and in violation of the Cigarettes & other Tobacco Products (Packaging & labelling) Amendment Rules, 2022, and are being supplied in the domestic market.

     The role of suppliers and dealers and other stakeholders in the case is being inquired about. Further investigation into the matter is in progress, they added.