DRI seizes around 55,000 e-cigarettes worth more than Rs. 13.5 crore in two operations at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized around 55,000 smuggled e-cigarettes valued at over Rs. 13.5 crore in two separate operations at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata on 24th October 2026. The Nepal-bound transshipment containers were intercepted based on specific intelligence and had been mis-declared as 'water glass' and 'ceramic mugs'. The seized items included various brands like IGET, VTV, VOKO, Bang, and Ejoy. The seizures were executed under relevant sections of the Customs Act. The release notes that electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. Additionally, the DRI has seized around 3,00,000 e-cigarettes worth more than Rs. 120 crore across various Indian ports, airports, and ICDs during the financial year 2026-27.