55,000 Smuggled E-Cigarettes Worth ₹13.5 Cr Seized in Kolkata
Two Nepal-bound consignments intercepted at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port; e-cigarettes were concealed among goods declared as water glass and ceramic mugs.
- DRI seizes around 55,000 e-cigarettes worth ₹13.5 crore in Kolkata.
- Two Nepal-bound containers intercepted on October 24.
- 40,000 IGET units and 15,000 e-cigarettes of other brands recovered.
- DRI’s e-cigarette seizures exceed ₹120 crore in FY 2026–27.
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 28th Oct: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 55,000 smuggled e-cigarettes valued at ₹13.5 crore in two operations at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata. The seizures were made on October 24, 2026, after officers acted on specific intelligence about suspected e-cigarettes concealed in Nepal-bound consignments.
The two containers were being transported as transshipment cargo, with their contents mis-declared as “water glass” and “ceramic mugs”. Detailed inspections uncovered thousands of e-cigarettes hidden among the declared goods.
Two Containers Yield 55,000 E-Cigarettes
The examination of the first container led to the recovery of 40,000 e-cigarettes of the IGET brand in various flavours. The second container contained around 15,000 e-cigarettes of different brands, including VTV, VOKO, Bang and Ejoy.
The DRI seized the e-cigarettes, along with the cover cargo, under relevant provisions of the Customs Act.
E-Cigarettes Prohibited in India
Electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The law bans their production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement.
The prohibition was introduced in the interest of public health and to protect people from potential harm associated with these products.
DRI Seizures Cross ₹120 Crore in FY 2026–27
The latest action adds to the DRI’s ongoing crackdown on the illicit e-cigarette trade. During the current financial year, 2026–27, the agency has seized around 3 lakh e-cigarettes worth more than ₹120 crore across ports, airports and inland container depots in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.
The Kolkata seizures highlight the use of mis-declared cargo to conceal prohibited goods during cross-border transit.
