Date: 2026-05-21Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
DRI seizes 3,00,000 electronic cigarettes/vapes worth Rs. 120 crore in a major crackdown on e-cigarette smuggling racket across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal
**Summary: DRI Crackdown on E-Cigarette Smuggling Racket**
On May 21, 2026, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under the Ministry of Finance, executed a large-scale operation across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and West Bengal to dismantle a major e-cigarette smuggling network.
**Key Data Points and Metrics:**
* **Seizure Volume:** Nearly 3,00,000 electronic cigarettes/vapes of various brands and flavors.
* **Estimated Value:** In excess of Rs. 120 crore.
* **Operational Scope:** Interceptions took place at various ports, airports, and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) across four major Indian states.
* **Source of Origin:** China.
* **Modus Operandi:** The prohibited goods were mis-declared as "Furniture" and "Metal Chair Parts" to circumvent customs scrutiny.
**Legal Framework:**
The operation was conducted in accordance with the **Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019**. This legislation prohibits all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in India to protect public health.
**Document Information:**
* **Posted By:** PIB Delhi
* **Release ID:** 2263644
* **Visitor Counter:** 2264
Key Entities Referenced
Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019: The central legislation that prohibits the production, import, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes in India.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): The primary enforcement agency responsible for the intelligence-led crackdown and seizure of the illegal e-cigarette smuggling racket.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS): The technical category of prohibited nicotine products, including vapes, which are the subject of the enforcement action.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal: The key states and union territory where the major crackdown and seizure operations were conducted across ports and airports.
Ministry of Finance
DRI seizes 3,00,000 electronic cigarettes/vapes
worth Rs. 120 crore in a major crackdown on e-
cigarette smuggling racket across Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal
Posted On: 21 MAY 2026 1:49PM by PIB Delhi
In a major crackdown against illegal import of prohibited nicotine products, the Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence (DRI) has busted a large-scale e-cigarette (vape) smuggling racket in its operations across
several ports, airports and ICDs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal in last few days.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI identified, tracked and intercepted multiple suspicious import
consignments that were mis-declared to evade customs scrutiny. Detailed examination led to the seizure of
nearly 3,00,000 electronic cigarettes/vapes of various brands, flavours and specifications valued at more
than Rs 120 crore.
These prohibited e-cigarettes were found to be sourced from China in every instance and imported in
concealment in the items such as such as “Furniture” and “Metal Chair Parts”.
Electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under
the the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale,
Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019, enacted in the interest of public health and to protect
people from harm.****
NB/KMN
(Release ID: 2263644) Visitor Counter : 2264
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