DRI cracks down on Vape Smuggling Racket; 3 lakh e-cigarettes seized across 4 states including Gujarat

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

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI identified, tracked, and intercepted multiple suspicious import consignments that were misdeclared to evade customs scrutiny. 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.

These prohibited e-cigarettes were found to have been sourced from China in every instance and imported in concealment among items such as “Furniture” and “Metal Chair Parts”.

Electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under 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. DeshGujarat