18,00,000 Cigarettes Valued at Rs.90 Lakh Seized

Vijayawada: The Customs in Kakinada on Sunday intercepted two vehicles near Rajanagaram National Highway, NH-16, coming from Patna with smuggled foreign brand cigarettes.

Deputy commissioner Vijayakumar said the two vehicles were taken to the customs at Ramanayyapeta, Kakinada for verification of the goods. “It was found that there were 9,00,000 sticks of Paris brand cigarettes in 30 HDPE packed bags in one vehicle and 9,00,000 sticks of Gold Vimal brand cigarettes in 30 HDPE packed bags in the second vehicle.”

In respect of Gold Vimal brand cigarettes, the goods were found to be in sound condition and ready for consumption, and not in a damaged nature as was declared and claimed in the tax invoice. The Paris brand cigarettes worth Rs.22.50 lakh have been seized on a belief that these were illegally imported/smuggled into the country by evading customs duties. The cigarettes of Gold Vimal brand worth Rs.67.50 lakh were detained on suspicion the goods were undervalued and would attract a higher rate of GST.

These goods will be handed over to the GST authorities for further action. The Customs DC added that further investigations were in progress.