DRI busts major cigarette smuggling racket: Recovers 2.3 crore cash, 7 lakh cigarettes sticks
DRI officials raided 3 godowns simultaneously
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials busted a major cigarette smuggling racket in Mumbai on Monday, resulting in the arrest of two people and recovery of banned contraband and cash worth over Rs 3 crore.
According to DRI officials, a group of individuals from Delhi had been involved in the smuggling of multi-brand and high-end foreign made cigarettes like Marlboro, Benson Hedges, More, Rothmans, Gudang Garam among others.
The smuggling syndicate had made Mumbai their distribution hub, from where they would ship the cigarettes in all parts of the country.
The raids resulted in the arrest of two people and recovery of Rs 2.31 crore cash
At least two such major distributors operated five to six godowns each in the city’s dense and sensitive market areas of Musafirkhana.
Upon receiving credible intelligence about their operation, DRI officials executed a multi-location operation earlier this week and raided three such godowns.
The raids resulted in the arrest of two persons, who were subsequently booked under relevant sections of IPC and Customs Act.
7,32,640 cigarette sticks, worth Rs 1.07 crore were seized
The arrested individuals, whose names are undisclosed as of now, are currently being questioned about the scope of the operation and the people running it.
During the raid, officials also seized Rs 2.31 crore in cash and 7,32,640 cigarette sticks. The foreign-made cigarettes, having a length of 75 mm and above, are valued at Rs 1.07 crore.
Further investigation in the case is underway.
