
DRI expresses concern over increased cigarette smuggling; warns smokers against cheap sticks
Officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have expressed concern over cigarette smuggling in a report, saying that high incidence of tax on the sin good is resulting in a tax arbitrage in favour of smuggling. It said the smuggled cigarettes are, on an average, 50 per cent cheaper in the Indian market as compared to the the similar domestic brands. From a public health perspective, the smuggling of cigarettes also poses a serious challenge since a part of the smuggled cigarettes are counterfeits and the quality of tobacco and other ingredients used in them, is inferior, it added.
During 2021-22, 11 crore sticks valued at Rs 93 crore were seized by DRI officers. While 47 per cent of this originated from Myanmar, 22 per cent came from the UAE and 31 per cent from others. The report said COVID-19 pandemic has forced the policymakers and the businesses worldwide to thoroughly revisit their prevalent policy/business models. The same holds good for smugglers and contraband traffickers as well.
Related Posts
Flush-out Companies Trading Fake Products
Ghana standards Authority is also expected to put in place the necessary...
Customs Seizes 59 iPhones and other Luxury Goods Worth Rs. 69.23 Lakhs at Delhi Indira Gandhi Airport
The Customs authorities at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport seized a...
2 Philippines nationals, Adani lounge staff at Mumbai airport held for bid to smuggle gold worth Rs 2 crore
Two Philippines nationals and a 41-year-old woman working in the Adani lounge...
Fake mobile accessories racket busted in Mumbai, products worth Rs 33 lakh seized
The Economic Offence Wing of Mumbai police busted a fake mobile accessories...