Gujarat: DRI seizes fake cigarettes worth 19.8cr, meth worth Rs 6.3cr

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Zonal Unit (AZU) of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized counterfeit cigarettes and drugs in two separate operations. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized counterfeit cigarettes worth Rs 19.8 crore and methamphetamine valued at Rs 6.32 crore in two separate operations.In the first case, officials seized 82.8 lakh sticks of counterfeit cigarettes on April 28. "Specific intelligence developed indicated that foreign-origin cigarettes were attempted to be smuggled through Mundra port in a container imported at Mundra from Singapore, destined for Dadri ACPI CFS (INAPL6). The goods were declared as toilet tissue," according to a release by DRI. "Acting upon the said intelligence, the suspected container, for which no bill of entry was filed, was intercepted and examined.' Verification found the goods to be counterfeit, following which the consignment was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. In the second case, DRI officials intercepted a woman travelling from Delhi to Mumbai on the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Dadar Western Special at Surat Railway Station on April 29. She was found carrying 6.32kg of methamphetamine worth Rs 6.32 crore. According to the DRI release, a search of her two trolley bags led to the recovery of 2.9kg of white crystalline substance hidden in specially made cavities inside two laptop bags, 2kg of crystalline substance gift-wrapped in a shoe box, and 1.39kg concealed within layers of new shirts. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine. The narcotics were seized under the NDPS Act, and the passenger was taken into custody, DRI officials said.