Based on intelligence developed, a 40-feet container that arrived at Nhava Sheva port, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru port (JNPT), in Navi Mumbai, was intercepted by the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), MZU at one of the Container Freight Stations (CFS) on December 4.
Subsequent examination of the container on December 5 revealed that the cargo was brazenly misdeclared and the entire container was densely packed with cigarettes instead of the item declared in the shipping documents. It is suspected that these cigarettes were meant to be pilfered and the timely intervention of DRI thwarted any such criminal designs.
Since smoking cigarettes has a deleterious effect on the health of the citizens and burdens the health infrastructure of a country, the government imposes a higher rate of duty on such goods. To evade the duty and compliance with regulations related to the import of tobacco-related products, the corrupt often indulge in nefarious activities like smuggling of such items.
A total of 86,30,000 sticks of cigarettes valued approximately at INR 14.67 crores have been seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation in the instant case is under progress.
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