DRI busts vape smuggling racket, seizes Rs 120 crore worth e-cigarettes imported from China

The DRI said the smuggled gold was later received by a cleaning staff member employed at a food outlet within the airport premises.

New Delhi: In a major crackdown against illegal import of prohibited nicotine products, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Thursday announced that it has busted a large-scale e-cigarette (vape) smuggling racket in its operations across several ports, airports and ICDs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal in last few days.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI identified, tracked and intercepted multiple suspicious import consignments that were mis-declared to evade customs scrutiny, according to Ministry of Finance. Detailed examination led to the seizure of nearly 3,00,000 electronic cigarettes/vapes of various brands, flavours and specifications valued at more than Rs 120 crore, the ministry said.

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These prohibited e-cigarettes were found to be sourced from China in every instance and imported in concealment in the items such as such as “Furniture” and “Metal Chair Parts”. Electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under the the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019, enacted in the interest of public health and to protect people from harm.

Meanwhile, last month, DRI busted a highly organised gold smuggling syndicate operating through the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport under a targeted operation codenamed ‘Operation Golden Drop’ in Mumbai.

According to the DRI, acting on specific intelligence inputs, officers intercepted and seized three kg of foreign-origin gold valued at approximately Rs 4.8 crore and arrested one accused.

Investigations conducted so far have revealed a sophisticated and meticulously coordinated modus operandi, the apex anti-smuggling agency of India said on May 20.

The smuggled gold dust, converted into wax form, was concealed inside specially designed egg-shaped capsules.

These capsules were allegedly ingested and carried into Mumbai by transit passengers, DRI said.

The DRI said the smuggled gold was later received by a cleaning staff member employed at a food outlet within the airport premises.

The employee allegedly helped in clandestinely removing and delivering the gold outside the airport. The accused has been arrested.