On December 2, 2025, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) announced it had busted a major e-cigarette smuggling operation at Tuticorin Port, seizing 45,984 e-cigarettes worth ₹10.41 crore. Three individuals were arrested. The e-cigarettes, concealed within a container of umbrellas, were imported from China. The seizure, which also included 4,300 umbrellas worth ₹4.30 lakh, occurred on November 27, 2025, under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The import of e-cigarettes is prohibited under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, read with DGFT Notification No. 20/2015-2020 dated September 26, 2019, and the Customs Act, 1962.
Key Entities Referenced
Customs Act, 1962: Law under which the e-cigarettes were seized and arrests were made.
Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 (PECA Act): Act prohibiting the import of e-cigarettes.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): Agency that busted the smuggling operation.
Tuticorin: Port where the e-cigarettes were seized.
Ministry of Finance
DRI busts major E-Cigarette smuggling gang
racket, seizes 45,984 e-cigarettes worth ₹10.42
crore at Tuticorin; 3 arrested
प्रव तथ: 02 DEC 2025 2:30PM by PIB Delhi
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully busted a major smuggling operation
involving prohibited electronic cigarettes worth Rs. 10.41 crore at Tuticorin Port. Three persons have
been arrested in connection with the case.
Based on specific intelligence that a gang involved in smuggling of e-cigarettes had planned to import a
container containing e-cigarettes from China into India through Tuticorin Port in the guise of umbrella,
officers of the DRI intercepted and examined the said container at Tuticorin on 27th November 2025.
During examination of the said container, some cartons were found to contain the declared cargo of
umbrellas, while a substantial portion was found to contain e-cigarettes concealed behind them. A total of
45,984 e-cigarettes of assorted flavors totally valued at Rs. 10.41 crore, concealed with 4,300 numbers of
umbrellas worth Rs. 4.30 lakh, were found and seized on 27th November 2025 under the provisions of the
Customs Act, 1962.
Acting swiftly, officers apprehended three Chennai-based individuals involved in clearing the
consignment were apprehended and arrested under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.The import of e-cigarettes is prohibited under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 (PECA
Act) read with DGFT Notification No. 20/2015-2020 dated 26th September 2019 and further under the
provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
The DRI remains committed in safeguarding the nation’s economic interests and public health by curbing
the smuggling of prohibited and harmful goods like e-cigarette through constant vigilance and
enforcement actions across the country.
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NB/KMN
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