In continuation of its fight against illegal smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in a major operation, has seized 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at approximately Rs. 18.2 crore on 23.06.2025.

Acting on a specific intelligence that cigarettes of foreign origin are being smuggled into India from Dubai under the guise ofBathroom and sanitary fittings”, the officers of DRI, Chennai Zonal Unit held a container bound to J-Matadee FTWZ.

Detailed examination revealed that the goods in the said container were mis-declared and it contained 92.1 lakh sticks of foreign origin cigarettes of various brands such as ‘Manchester United Kingdom’, ‘Manchester United Kingdom Special Edition’ and ‘Mac Ice Superslims cool blast’, instead of the declared goods. The value of the cigarettes is Rs 18.2 crore (approx). Further, the cigarettes do not comply with the packaging and labelling requirements as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, including the absence of statutory health warnings. The contraband has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is under progress.

 

       

In the past year alone, the DRI has seized a total of 4.4 crore sticks of both foreign origin and counterfeit cigarettes that were being smuggled through ports in Chennai. The value of these seized cigarettes is estimated at Rs. 79.67 crore.

Smuggling of foreign-origin cigarettes triggers seizure under Customs Act for mis-declaration and COTPA packaging violations. Seizure followed intelligence-led inspection of a container mis-declared as bathroom and sanitary fittings, which contained foreign-origin cigarettes lacking mandatory COTPA packaging and labelling; the contraband was seized under the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is underway.