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99 Smuggling in India Report 2024-25

There has been a rise in seizures along the North-East–Delhi route in FY 2024–25,
with DRI intercepting several trucks carrying foreign-origin cigarettes at locations
in Bihar (Motipur, Muzaffarpur, Patna) and Uttar Pradesh (Mirzapur, Gorakhpur,
Varanasi). These operations led to the confiscation of about 75.60 lakh cigarettes
of brands such as ESSE, Benson & Hedges, Gudang Garam, DJARUM Black, and
fake Gold Flake.

b. Seizures at Ports

Smugglers exploit the sheer scale of containerized shipments arriving at seaports
to conceal foreign-origin cigarettes within legitimate consignments. Shipments are
falsely declared to avoid detection by automated risk-profiling systems.

Case 3: 1.55 crore misdeclared gold ake cigareĴes seized at
Chennai port

In February 2025, 75,00,000 cigarettes of “Gold
flake King Blue Honeydew” brand, imported from
Thailand and misdeclared as plastic items were
seized at Chennai port. Three months later,
80,00,000 more sticks of the same brand imported
from Singapore misdeclared as “multipurpose plas-
tic storage boxes” were seized at Chennai port.

Case 4: 46 lakh cigareĴes seized at
Chennai port

In January 2025, 46,01,600 cigarettes of “Man-
chester” brand imported from UAE by misdeclar-
ing as “table top fireplace” were seized by DRI.

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