Navi Mumbai: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Seizes Illicit Cigarette Shipment Worth ₹5.77 Crores at Nhava Sheva
Navi Mumbai, 29th December 2023: In a significant operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) announced the successful confiscation of an illicit cigarette shipment valued at ₹5.77 crores. Acting on intelligence provided by DRI, Mumbai, officers detained a 40-foot refrigerated container at a Container Freight Station (CFS) in Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) or Nhava Sheva, revealing a sophisticated smuggling attempt.
The DRI, Mumbai, received intelligence leading them to intercept a refrigerated container at JNPT. Upon inspection at the Nhava Sheva CFS, officers uncovered a covert operation where cigarette cartons were meticulously concealed within cardboard boxes labelled as containing tamarind—the declared item in the shipping documents.
Detailed examination by DRI officials revealed a high level of sophistication in the concealment technique. The cigarette cartons were skillfully hidden within tamarind boxes, ensuring they remained virtually undetectable even upon opening the cardboard boxes. This intricate method of hiding illustrated the perpetrators’ efforts to evade scrutiny.
The smuggled cargo comprised a staggering 33,92,000 cigarette sticks, with an estimated market value of ₹5.77 crores. The significant scale of the operation highlights the challenges faced by authorities in combating such illicit activities.
Authorities are actively pursuing ongoing investigations to delve deeper into the case. The meticulous concealment suggests the involvement of organized and well-equipped smuggling networks.
