DRI Seizes 13,000 E-Cigarettes Worth Over Rs 4-Cr in Smuggling Attempt
New Delhi, Nov 11 (TNT) : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 13,000 prohibited e-cigarettes valued at over Rs 4 crore from an import consignment in which the goods were misdeclared as mop rods.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the consignment and conducted a detailed examination of the container, the Agency said in a release on Tuesday.
They recovered 6,000 pieces of ‘Yuoto Thanos’ and 7,000 pieces of ‘Yuoto Lens’ branded e-cigarettes concealed at the end of the container amid the declared cargo of mop rods (handles).
The seized e-cigarettes, along with the cover cargo, were collectively valued at over Rs 4 crore and confiscated under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act.
The import, export, manufacture, sale, distribution, transport, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, in the interest of public health.
During the current financial year 2026-27, the DRI has seized around 3.55 lakh e-cigarettes valued at more than Rs 135 crore across various ports, airports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.
TNT KM
