Cracking down on the smuggling of foreign origin cigarettes in the North Eastern Region, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted coordinated operations codenamed “OPERATION FILTER OUT” on 21^st and 22^nd November, 2025 in Mizoram. The operations were assisted by the Assam Rifles and the Border Security Force.

In the first case, a suspect vehicle was intercepted in the early hours of 21.11.2025 at Kanhmun, Mamit District, Mizoram. 165 cartons of foreign origin cigarettes (16,50,000 sticks) of brands Oris, Win and Benson & Hedges were recovered from the vehicle. In follow-up operation, a residential premises used as godownin Kanhmun was searched and 110 cartons (11,00,000 sticks) of brands Oris and Benson & Hedges Blue Gold recovered. Subsequently, 87 cartons (8,70,000 sticks) of brands Paris Special Filter, XSO Black Fruits and Benson & Hedges Blue Gold were recovered from another godown also in Kanhmun. Thus, 36.20 lakh sticks of foreign origin cigarettes were recovered and two people were arrested.

In the second case, two godowns and a residential premises located in Chandmari area of Lunglei, Mizoram were searched on 22.11.2025 and 375 cartons of foreign cigarettes (37,50,000 sticks) of brands Oris, Win, V, Far Star, Esse Light, Patron, Mond & Valiant recovered and one person was arrested.

In total, 73,70,000 sticks of foreign origin cigarettes, having market value of Rs. 14.74 crore, were seized in these operations. The recovered cigarette packets do not carry the mandatory pictorial and health warnings as required under the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.

Preliminary investigation reveals that these foreign origin cigarettes were smuggled into Mizoram from Myanmar through the Zokhawthar sector of the Indo-Myanmar border. The recovered cigarettes and the vehicle have been seized under the Customs Act, 1962, and three people arrested.

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NB/KMN

Smuggling of foreign cigarettes seized under Customs Act in Mizoram with large seizure and three arrests. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, with assistance from security forces, intercepted vehicles and searched godowns in Mizoram, recovering 73,70,000 foreign origin cigarette sticks of various brands that lacked the mandatory pictorial and health warnings. The recovered cigarettes and an implicated vehicle were seized under the Customs Act, 1962, preliminary inquiries indicate smuggling from Myanmar via the Zokhawthar sector, and three persons were arrested.