Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized cigarettes of foreign origin worth ₹69.93 lakh from seven passengers, who arrived at the Coimbatore International Airport on October 8 from Colombo.
Green channel
Based on specific information, Mohammed Akbar Ali, Ansarali, Abdul Khadir, Kalander Hyder Ali, and Shahul Hameed who arrived from Colombo were intercepted as they came from the green channel at the arrival hall at the airport. Two more passengers Hasan Riyaz and Ismail were also intercepted.
A total of 23,310 packets containing 4,66,200 sticks without prescribed statutory or pictorial warning were taken from them.
During investigation, the passengers admitted that they were engaged in smuggling activity for monetary consideration.
Since import of cigarettes in commercial quantity is restricted and subject to fulfilment of conditions under the Customs Act, the entire quantity of cigarettes was seized by the DRI officials.
Five of the passengers were arrested. Two others were not arrested as the value of the cigarettes that they carried was less than ₹20 lakh.
Further investigations are on, according to DRI source.
