Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Guwahati: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized approximately 60,000 kilograms of foreign-origin areca nuts following two coordinated operations in Mizoram and Assam. These raids, conducted by the Guwahati Zonal Unit, targeted smuggling routes along the Myanmar-Mizoram border. The Assam Rifles 38 Battalion assisted the agency in one of these efforts. Five individuals are currently in custody in connection with the racket.
Authorities stated that the illegal importation of these nuts harms domestic growers and threatens the economic stability of the border regions. The raids are part of an ongoing initiative to dismantle organized cross-border smuggling networks in Northeast India.
In a separate enforcement action, the DRI intercepted nearly 300,000 electronic cigarettes and vapes valued at over ₹120 crore. This nationwide operation targeted major hubs across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and West Bengal. Officials discovered these goods at various ports, airports, and inland depots where they had been misdeclared as furniture or metal parts to bypass customs inspections.
The seized products originated in China. These items remain strictly prohibited in India under the 2019 Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, which was enacted to protect public health. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that these seizures demonstrate the agency's commitment to stopping illicit trade and protecting national economic and health interests.
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