The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized approximately 55,000 e-cigarettes worth ₹13.50 crore in two operations at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata, according to an official government announcement dated October 28, 2026.
The seizures were carried out on October 24 after officers acted on specific intelligence and intercepted two containers carrying consignments intended for transshipment to Nepal.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Approximately 55,000 e-cigarettes valued at ₹13.50 crore seized in two operations.
Location: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Authority/Organisation: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
Action Taken: Two Nepal-bound transshipment containers were intercepted and inspected; e-cigarettes and cover cargo were seized under relevant provisions of the Customs Act.
- Impact: The operation disrupted the movement of a large consignment of prohibited e-cigarettes and formed part of wider enforcement efforts against illicit trade.
During the examination of the first container, officers recovered 40,000 e-cigarettes of the IGET brand in different flavours. The products had been concealed among cargo declared as water glass.
A detailed inspection of the second container resulted in the recovery of approximately 15,000 e-cigarettes of various brands, including VTV, VOKO, Bang and Ejoy. These products were hidden among cargo declared as ceramic mugs.
The agency seized the e-cigarettes along with the cover cargo under relevant provisions of the Customs Act. The combined estimated value of the seized products was ₹13.50 crore.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Enforcement of Indian law: The seizure demonstrates the application of India's legal restrictions on electronic cigarettes and related products. Cargo inspection: The case highlights the role of intelligence-led checks in identifying prohibited items concealed among declared goods. Public health: India's restrictions on e-cigarettes were introduced with public health protection as a central objective. Preventing the circulation of prohibited products supports enforcement of that policy. International transit monitoring: The Nepal-bound route makes the case relevant to cross-border cargo monitoring and transshipment controls. Scale of enforcement: The government reported approximately three lakh e-cigarettes worth more than ₹120 crore seized across several locations during the current financial year up to the announcement. The seizure does not, by itself, establish the identities or culpability of those responsible for the consignment. Any such conclusions require verified investigative or legal findings.
Electronic cigarettes and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The law prohibits activities including their production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement, subject to the provisions of the Act.
The latest operation forms part of a wider enforcement effort against the illegal trade in electronic cigarettes. The government stated that the agency had seized approximately three lakh e-cigarettes valued at more than ₹120 crore across ports, airports and inland container depots in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal during the financial year 2026–27 up to the announcement.
The seizure demonstrates how intelligence-led inspections can identify prohibited goods concealed within declared cargo. It also underlines the importance of cargo verification and coordination among enforcement authorities at major transport hubs.
The government announcement confirms the seizure, the declared cargo descriptions and the Nepal-bound transshipment route. It does not establish the guilt of any particular person or company, and no such conclusion should be drawn without further verified information.
