The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has intercepted 18 containers at Gujarat’s Mundra Port over suspected misdeclaration of imported goods, with imported cigarettes reportedly recovered from three containers and two people detained for questioning.
The containers had arrived from Gulf countries and were stopped before customs clearance after the DRI received information that foreign cigarettes were allegedly being concealed under other declared goods. The consignment was reportedly destined for Tughlakabad in Delhi after leaving Mundra Port.
According to the report, the importer had filed documents including bills of entry with customs authorities to show that goods were being brought into the country. The DRI suspected that the declared cargo was being used to conceal imported cigarettes and began examining the containers at the port.
The initial inspection of three containers led to the recovery of a cigarette consignment valued at several crores of rupees, although the exact quantity and value have not yet been established. Officials are continuing to open and examine the remaining containers, meaning the total seizure could change once the operation is completed.
The case has also brought customs house agents under the agency’s scrutiny. The preliminary investigation has indicated the possible involvement of a network linked to the smuggling of cigarettes and areca nut, according to the report. The DRI is examining the roles of the importers, intermediaries and other people involved in processing and moving the consignments.
Two people from Ahmedabad and Delhi have been detained and are being questioned as part of the investigation. The report does not identify them by name or state whether arrests or formal charges have been made. Further action is expected after the agency completes its examination of the containers and reviews the import documentation.
Mundra Port, one of India’s major commercial gateways, is a critical point in the movement of containerised cargo into and across the country. A misdeclaration case at the port therefore involves more than the goods found in individual containers: it also requires investigators to trace the documentation, clearance chain and inland movement planned for the cargo.
The latest operation follows earlier seizures at Mundra involving e-cigarettes and prohibited fireworks imported from China, according to the report. The DRI is now examining whether cigarettes had previously been brought in through similar consignments and whether the same individuals or entities were involved.
The agency has not yet disclosed the final quantity or total value of the cigarettes recovered. Those details, along with the findings on the remaining containers and the suspected smuggling network, are expected after the inspection and investigation are completed.
