Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Inter-state Cigarette Smuggling Syndicate Busted; Four Held
Imagine a group of people who were secretly bringing fake cigarettes from a country called Myanmar into India.
They would hide these cigarettes among normal goods to sneak them through different states, like Assam, and finally sell them in Delhi.
The police found out about this plan.
They stopped a truck filled with these fake cigarettes.
The cigarettes didn't have the right health warnings on them, which is against the law.
The police have caught four people involved in this smuggling ring, including the truck driver and people who helped arrange the transport and sales.
They also took away two trucks and a lot of these illegal cigarettes, which are worth a lot of money.
An inter-state cigarette smuggling syndicate, sourcing contraband from Myanmar and operating between Assam and Delhi, has been busted.
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the smuggling operation.
Police seized 2.22 lakh prohibited cigarettes worth Rs 31 lakh, along with two trucks.
The seized cigarettes lacked mandatory health warnings and packaging details, violating the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
The syndicate used fake identities, digital payments, and transport channels to move the contraband, with an alleged profit of Rs 5,000-Rs 8,000 per carton.
- Who
- Police, Santosh (truck driver), Mantosh (Delhi contact), Kishore (Assam arranger), Waseem alias Badshah (Delhi receiver)
- What
- A cigarette-smuggling syndicate sourcing contraband from Myanmar and operating between Assam and Delhi was busted, with four arrests and seizure of prohibited cigarettes and trucks.
- When
- Arrests made after a tip-off on October 28, with announcement on Friday, November 7.
- Where
- Interception at Mori Gate, Delhi; operations linked Assam and Myanmar.
- Why
- To curb illegal smuggling of cigarettes that violate packaging and health warning regulations and to disrupt the supply of prohibited tobacco products.
Law Enforcement
Smugglers
Source and Transport of Contraband
Law Enforcement
The syndicate sourced cigarettes from Myanmar via Moreh, Manipur, and transported them through various North-Eastern states to Delhi, concealing them with legitimate goods.
Smugglers
The syndicate operated a supply network sourcing contraband from Myanmar, utilizing fake identities, digital payments, and transport channels to move cigarettes to Delhi.
Illegality of Goods
Law Enforcement
The seized cigarettes, worth Rs 31 lakh, lacked mandatory health warnings and packaging details, violating the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
Smugglers
The smugglers dealt in prohibited cigarettes, aiming for profits of Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 per carton by selling them in Delhi.
- Operation
- Inter-state cigarette smuggling syndicate busted
- Source of Cigarettes
- Myanmar
- Primary Transport Route
- Assam to Delhi via Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya
- Number Arrested
- 4
- Arrested Individuals
- Santosh, Mantosh, Waseem alias Badshah, Kishore
- Seized Items
- 2.22 lakh prohibited cigarettes (worth Rs 31 lakh), two trucks
- Legal Violations
- Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) - lack of health warnings/packaging details