E-Cigarettes in Transit to Nepal Seized in Call Port

· Seizure: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized around 55,000 smuggled e-cigarettes valued at ₹13.50 crore on 24 October 2026 at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.

· Two containers intercepted: The consignments were destined for Nepal under transshipment arrangements and were suspected of containing e-cigarettes.

· Misdeclaration of goods: The consignments were concealed among declared cargo described as “water glass” and “ceramic mugs”.

· First container: Approximately 40,000 IGET-brand e-cigarettes in various flavours were recovered.

· Second container: Around 15,000 e-cigarettes of brands including VTV, VOKO, Bang and Ejoy were recovered.

· Legal action: The e-cigarettes and cover cargo were seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act.

· Legal prohibition: Electronic cigarettes and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.

· FY 2026–27 enforcement: DRI has reportedly seized around 3 lakh e-cigarettes worth over ₹120 crore across ports, airports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.

[ABS News Service/28.10.2026]

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) continues its sustained crackdown on illicit trade and seized over 55,000 smuggled e-cigarettes at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, on 24th October 2026.

Acting on specific intelligence DRI officers intercepted two containers Nepal-bound transshipment consignment suspected to contain e-cigarettes. The goods had been mis-declared as “water glass” and “ceramic mugs” in another. A detailed examination of the first container led to the recovery of 40,000 pieces of e-cigarettes of brand IGET in various flavours, hidden among the declared cargo. Whereas, detailed examination of second container led to the recovery of around 15,000 pieces of e-cigarettes of various brands, including VTV, VOKO, Bang and Ejoy, hidden among the declared cargo.

In total around 55,000 e-cigarettes valued at Rs 13.50 crore were seized along with the cover cargo under relevant sections of Customs Act.

Electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under 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.

In the current FY 2026-27, DRI have already made seizure of around 3,00,000 e-cigarettes worth more than Rs. 120 crore in across various ports, airports, and ICDs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.