Chennai: Customs officials seized cigarettes worth ₹1.33 crore smuggled from the United Arab Emirates to Chennai on a cargo flight. Officials had received confidential information that narcotics were being smuggled on some flights arriving at the cargo section of Chennai International Airport.
According to the information, customs officials conducted a thorough check of cargo flights arriving in Chennai. During this, customs officials unloaded parcels from a private cargo flight arriving in Chennai and examined them. According to the information, some of the parcels contained laundry detergent.
Checking Addresses and Phone Numbers
However, after a suspicious parcel was discovered, officials separated it. It is reported that when the person did not come to collect the parcel even after two days, customs officials checked the address and phone number provided on the suspicious parcel, which turned out to be fake.
430,000 Foreign Cigarettes
Upon examination of the parcel, it was discovered that approximately 430,000 foreign cigarettes and 1,130 e-cigarettes were banned in India. Furthermore, the cigarettes lacked proper advertising and documentation. Consequently, officials confiscated the cigarettes.
Over 1 Crore Rupees Worth
Officials estimated their international value at ₹1.33 crore. Following this, customs officials have registered a case in connection with the incident and are conducting a thorough investigation into the cigarette smugglers. The seizure of 431,130 foreign cigarettes, including e-cigarettes smuggled from the United Arab Emirates disguised as washing powder, has caused a stir at Chennai airport.
