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DRI seizes around 13,000 e-cigarettes worth more than Rs. 4 crore at JNPT Port in its sustained crackdown on illicit trade

PIB National (English) · Published 10 November 2026 · Last updated

DRI’s seizure of 13,000 e‑cigarettes worth >₹4 crore at JNPT underscores strict enforcement of the 2019 Prohibition Act and the scale of illicit ENDS trade in FY 2026‑27.

Key points

  • On 10 Nov 2026, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers intercepted a consignment at JNPT Port mis‑declared as “Mop Rod” and seized 13,000 e‑cigarettes valued at over ₹4 crore.
  • The seized items comprised 6,000 units of Yuoto Thanos and 7,000 units of Yuoto Lens, concealed among the declared cargo.
  • The seizure was executed under relevant sections of the Customs Act, 1962, following specific intelligence inputs.
  • E‑cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.
  • In FY 2026‑27, DRI has confiscated around 3,55,000 e‑cigarettes worth ₹135 crore across ports, airports and ICDs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal.
  • The operation reflects DRI’s continued commitment to curb cross‑border smuggling and protect public health and economic interests.
  • The seized consignment was discovered after a detailed examination of the container’s end, revealing the hidden ENDS despite the declared “Mop Rod” cargo.
  • The action aligns with the government’s broader public‑health agenda to eliminate nicotine‑based products and curb illicit trade.

Background

  • The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 bans production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e‑cigarettes across India.
  • The Act was enacted in response to rising youth nicotine addiction and WHO recommendations on tobacco control.
  • DRI, under the Ministry of Finance, is the primary agency tasked with anti‑smuggling operations at Indian customs points.
  • Since the Act’s commencement, multiple seizures have been reported, but the scale escalated markedly in FY 2026‑27.
  • Earlier Supreme Court judgments (e.g., *M/s. Philip Morris v. Union of India*, 2020) upheld stringent restrictions on nicotine products, reinforcing the legal basis for enforcement.

Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.

Original report: PIB National (English)

Sources