DRI busts a large e-cig/vape smuggling ring in India and recovers Inventory worth Rs 120 crores.
Key Highlights of the Operation
DRI Uncovers Large-Scale Import of Prohibited Nicotine Products Through Misdeclaration: DRI in its Intelligence-Based Enforcement (IBE) initiative intercepted and recovered several import consignments of prohibited vape products which were being imported into the country in suspicious and misdeclared manner with an intent to evade scrutiny of Customs.
DRI Uncovers Large-Scale Import of Prohibited Nicotine Products Through Misdeclaration: DRI in its Intelligence-Based Enforcement (IBE) initiative intercepted and recovered several import consignments of prohibited vape products which were being imported into the country in suspicious and misdeclared manner with an intent to evade scrutiny of Customs.
A whopping 300,000 e-cigarettes of over 100 different varieties including brands and models which were designed for the Indian market were recovered by the DRI officials during their nationwide operation across the country. The entire stock would have fetched the importers over ₹120 crore had they managed to sell the contraband in the black market.
Source Country of Origin of the Prohibited E-Cigarettes: China. Importers, in their attempt to introduce the prohibited e-cigarettes in to the country illegally, had been declaring the import consignments of prohibited e-cigarettes to be “Furniture” or “Metal Chair Parts” of Chinese origin.
Legal Framework: The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act – The Legal Framework.
Conclusion
This is but a further step of DRI in its ongoing effort to check import of illegal nicotine products into the country and curb violations of prohibition on sale of electronic cigarettes and other vape products put in place to protect health of citizens.