Archive · 25 Jun 2025
DRI Seizes ₹18.2 Crore Worth of Smuggled Cigarettes in Chennai
Customs officers in Chennai found a large shipment of illegal cigarettes.
Over 9 million cigarettes were discovered, worth a lot of money, that were hidden within a shipment of bathroom fixtures.
The cigarettes came from Dubai.
The packages didn't have required health warnings.
Authorities are investigating because bringing these cigarettes into the country was against the law.
DRI seized 92.1 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes.
The cigarettes were valued at approximately ₹18.2 crore.
Cigarettes were smuggled from Dubai.
Goods were misdeclared as bathroom and sanitary fittings.
The cigarettes do not comply with packaging and labeling regulations.
- Who
- DRI officials.
- What
- DRI seized 92.1 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes.
- When
- June 23 (seizure).
- Where
- Chennai, India.
- Why
- To combat illegal smuggling of foreign-origin cigarettes.
- Seized Items
- 92.1 lakh foreign-origin cigarettes
- Estimated Value
- ₹18.2 crore
- Smuggling Location
- From Dubai
- Declared Goods
- Bathroom and sanitary fittings
- Violation
- Packaging and labeling requirements of COTPA, 2003
