DRI seizes e-cigarettes worth ₹10.41 crore in Thoothukudi
The DRI in Thoothukudi seized smuggled e-cigarettes valued at ₹10.41 crore and arrested three individuals involved.Summary
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Thoothukudi seized e-cigarettes valued at approximately ₹10.41 crore that were smuggled from China. Acting on a tip-off on November 27, officials intercepted a container that arrived from Shekou port, which was falsely documented as carrying umbrellas for a private company. Upon inspection, DRI officials discovered 45,000 pieces of e-cigarettes concealed behind a few rows of umbrellas.
Following the seizure, the DRI arrested three individuals—R. Nagaraj from Alappuzha, and V. K. Rajkumar and G. Swaminathan from Chennai—who allegedly arranged the smuggling operation for financial gain. The plan was to transport the contraband from Thoothukudi to Chennai for sale.
The accused were produced before the Judicial Magistrate in Thoothukudi and remanded to judicial custody at Perurani district jail, with further investigation ongoing.
(Source：The Hindu)
