Trichy: The air intelligence unit (AIU) of customs department at Trichy International Airport seized more than 1,200 e-cigarettes from two air passengers who arrived from Malaysia on Saturday night.
AIU in a statement on Monday said that the officers got an intelligence input that some passengers indulging in the smuggling of e-cigarettes into India were landing at the Trichy airport on Saturday.
Acting on the information, the AIU officials intensified vigil during the check-out of inward passengers. They checked the passengers who arrived at the airport by OD 223 Batik Airlines from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The intense check brought to light the smuggling of 1,285 e-cigarettes (VAPE) totally valued at 32.1 lakh by two passengers.
AIU officials seized the e-cigarettes from the two passengers as the import of the e-cigarettes remains prohibited in India. The seized e-cigarettes were of nearly seven varieties made abroad.
