VIJAYAWADA: Excise authorities have busted a major spurious liquor racket, arresting 36 persons and seizing 2,232 litres of illegal spirit. Acting on intelligence inputs, the excise teams conducted raids across several districts—including Konaseema, West Godavari, Anakapalli, Bapatla, and Nellore between June 23 and July 22. In addition to the illegal spirit, officials seized empty bottles, bottle caps, sealing machines, and counterfeit labels, indicating an inter-state operation wherein spirit was diverted under the guise of industrial use.
Foreign-made prohibited cigarettes worth over Rs 25 lakh seized in Delhi, 4 held
New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) The Delhi Police has busted a cigarette-smuggling racket and seized a massive consignment of foreign-made prohibited cigarettes valued at around Rs 25.76 lakh, an official said on Monday. Police apprehended four people, including two women, from the Noida-Delhi border on Sunday.
“The accused were travelling in an SUV that was being used to smuggle the contraband from Guwahati to Delhi,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said.
He said a total of 9,420 packets containing 1,88,400 sticks of prohibited cigarettes of international brands were seized during the operation.
Cigarettes, mobile phones worth Tk 60 lakh seized at Ctg airport
CHATTOGRAM, July 19, 2025 (BSS)- Authorities at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram have seized foreign-brand cigarettes and mobile phones worth Taka 59 lakh 95 thousand from three inbound passengers arriving here from Dubai.
The contraband items were recovered late Friday night from the passengers travelling on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS 344, which landed here from Dubai. The passengers were identified as Mohammad Shah Alam and Md. Arfan, both from Hathazari and Ashraful Islam of Zorarganj upazila of the district.
A total of 570 cartons of foreign-brand cigarettes worth Taka 19 lakh 95 thousand and 30 mobile phones worth approximately Taka 40 lakh were recovered from their possession,” Khalil said, adding that the cigarettes were seized as those fall under the list of prohibited imports and the mobile phones were confiscated for exceeding the allowable baggage limit.
Gold worth Rs 96.75 lakh seized at Amritsar airport
The Customs Department at the Amritsar international airport foiled a significant gold smuggling attempt, seizing nearly one kilogram of gold from two passengers. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Customs officials intercepted the two passengers, who had arrived from Kolkata on IndiGo flight 6E 201.
According to officials, a total of 968.47 grams of gold, valued at approximately Rs 96.75 lakh, was recovered from the two passengers. The gold was cleverly concealed to avoid detection, but alert Customs staff detained the suspects on suspicion and carried out a detailed search.
During interrogation, the passengers failed to provide any credible explanation regarding the origin of the seized gold. Authorities suspect that the smugglers are linked to a larger organised smuggling network that is exploiting domestic flight routes to avoid stringent checks commonly applied on international passengers.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/gold-worth-96-75-lakh-seized-at-amritsar-airport/
Chennai customs seizes e-cigarettes worth Rs 23 lakh
CHENNAI: Customs officials at Chennai international airport recently, seized e-cigarettes and cigarettes smuggled from Malaysia and Dubai respectively in separate incidents.
On July 16, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Chennai Air Customs during a routine check, seized three consignments from Malaysia, which carried 29 kg of e-cigarettes, totalling to 998 e-cigarettes of ELFBAR brand worth Rs 23 lakh, misreported as cloth hangers and textile material at the Foreign Post Office, Chennai.
The contrabands were seized under 110 and 111 of the Customs Act read with PECA (Prohibition of electronic cigarettes act) Act 2019. In the second seizure on July 14, 25 kg of cigarette, totalling to 2 lakh cigarettes worth `25 lakh, were seized from 10 consignments from Dubai.
Illegal liquor seized by police from Udaipur Matabari area
In response to long-standing complaints from residents of Ram Sagar Para in Udaipur’s Matabari area, police from Radha Kishorepur station conducted a surprise raid on Wednesday night based on a tip-off.
The operation targeted the residence of 40-year-old Amal Das, where a large quantity of illegally stored foreign liquor was seized. Upon hearing about the raid, Amal Das fled the scene before police arrival. The illegally stockpiled liquor was confiscated and taken to the police station, and a case has been registered against him.
Locals have expressed concern that such antisocial activities are influencing the youth negatively and demanded further action against others reportedly involved in similar activities.
Customs thwart bid to smuggle foreign cigarettes worth 50L
Chennai: Customs sleuths at Chennai airport thwarted attempts to smuggle e-cigarettes and foreign-brand cigarettes worth 50 lakh through postal parcels and have launched a hunt for the suspects. Based on intelligence, a team of customs officials checked the parcels at the foreign post office at Chennai airport on Monday and seized 10 carton boxes sent from Dubai. Each box, weighing about 25 kg, contained a mix of foreign brand and Indian brand cigarettes.
In total, 2.3 lakh cigarette sticks worth 25 lakh were seized. On Wednesday, customs sleuths also seized three carton boxes, each weighing 29 kg, that arrived from Malaysia. Although the consignment was declared as cloth hangers and textiles, customs sleuths found 998 e-cigarettes worth 25 lakh hidden inside.The contraband was seized under sections 110 and 111 of the Customs Act, the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, and the COPTA Act. Although the parcels had different addresses for delivery. Officials said some of them were fake and others said the parcels were not meant for them. Officials suspect that the receivers deliberately provided fake addresses to claim the parcels at the post office in person.
FICCI CASCADE Auto Rally
14th July 2025| Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
India continues to grapple with the far-reaching consequences of smuggling and counterfeiting, an underground web that not only undermines our legitimate economy and industries but also endangers the lives and safety of consumers. Alarmingly, a significant portion of the population affected by these illicit activities remains unaware of the true scale and severity of the threat. To effectively address the issue, sensitization and public engagement are imperative.
As part of our ongoing commitment to raise widespread awareness about the adverse impacts of smuggling and counterfeiting on our economy, society, as well as health and safety of the citizens, FICCI CASCADE successfully orchestrated an Auto Rally in Srinagar, Jammu amp; Kashmir on 14 th July 2025. This initiative witnessed over 200 auto rickshaws forming a convoy as they traversed a designated route which commenced from Nehru Park, Boulevard Road, Srinagar, amplifying the message of awareness and collective action across the city.
Flagging off the Auto Rally, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Honble Chief Minister, emphasized that smuggling and counterfeiting are insidious threats that penetrate markets, undermine legitimate businesses, drain government revenues, and endanger public safety. He mentioned that the impact of these illegal activities may not always be visible, but the consequences are grave.
He lauded the rally as a vital initiative in raising public awareness and promoting consumer vigilance. Mr. Wani further stressed the urgent need for widespread public sensitization and a shift in societal attitudes to curb the problem of counterfeit and smuggled goods in daily trade.
Reaffirming his commitment to the cause, he added, “We stand united in the fight against illicit trade and are dedicated to advancing this mission through sustained efforts, stronger collaborations, and meaningful action across Jammu and Kashmir.”
Shri Tanvir Sadiq, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Jammu and Kashmir, highlighted that illicit trade poses a significant threat to the economy, endangers livelihoods, and puts public safety at serious risk. He emphasized that in a region like Jammu and Kashmir, where efforts are consistently being made towards peace, stability, and development tackling counterfeiting and smuggling must be a collective priority.
He further underscored the importance of robust enforcement mechanisms and widespread public awareness as critical tools to safeguard the interests of legitimate businesses and secure a safer and more promising future for the youth of the region.
Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Burza, Chair, FICCI J&K State Council accentuated that in a region like Jammu & Kashmir, where economic stability and employment are key pillars of progress, curbing illicit trade is vital in ensuring growth, trust, and supporting lawful enterprise.
Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor to FICCI CASCADE and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, asserted that illicit trade is far more than just an economic concern, it poses a direct threat to national security. He noted that the proceeds from smuggling often fuel organized crime and even terrorist activities, making it a grave issue that demands urgent attention. "Every smuggled product in the market undermines legitimate businesses, drains government revenue, and endangers public health," he remarked. Highlighting the significance of the Auto Rally in Srinagar, Mr. Chand said the initiative is a call to action, aimed at engaging and empowering citizens to take an active role in the fight against illicit trade.
During the rally, several impactful messages were shared to raise awareness about the serious implications of illicit trade. At the heart of the campaign were four powerful slogans, each emphasizing a key consequence: illicit trade causes job losses, finances terrorist activities, fuels organized crime and poses significant health hazards.
The auto rally was meticulously coordinated, following a route that spanned Nehru Park, Boulevard Road →Proceed straight along Boulevard Road→ SKICC →Royal Springs Golf Course gate and then ultimately concluding its journey at Nehru Park.
The Auto Rally in Srinagar stands as a significant step forward in FICCI CASCADE’s ongoing efforts to engage with communities, local authorities, and the general public in the fight against illicit trade. By fostering awareness and encouraging public resistance to smuggling and counterfeiting, initiatives like this play a crucial role in building a more informed and vigilant society. Through sustained outreach campaigns, FICCI CASCADE continues to strengthen consumer awareness and mobilize nationwide support to eradicate the menace of illicit trade.
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Liquor worth 2.25L seized near Gujarat Vidyapith
Ahmedabad: Police seized 219 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor worth Rs 2.25 lakh near Gujarat Vidyapith and arrested two men on Sunday. The liquor, said to have been smuggled from Rajasthan, was found being distributed in public on a street near the university in Usmanpura.
The seizure was made during a raid by the Prevention of Crime Branch based on a tip-off. The two men were caught red-handed — one transporting the liquor in a four-wheeler and another arriving on a two-wheeler to collect a portion of the consignment. The accused have been identified as Bhiyaramsinh Devaram Chaudhary (30), a resident of Odhav, who reportedly brought the stock from Rajasthan in his four-wheeler, and Anil alias Sunny Natvarlal Prajapati (40), a resident of Shahpur, who had come to collect a part of it.
Chandigarh: 2,500 cases of liquor seized from illegal warehouse in Daria
During the operation, the department discovered multiple cartons of liquor brands stored illegally, which they suspect was to be supplied to cities outside Chandigarh
The UT excise department seized 2,500 cases of illicit liquor from an unauthorised warehouse in Daria village during a raid late Thursday night. The raid was conducted following a tip-off.
During the operation, the department discovered multiple cartons of liquor brands stored illegally, which they suspect was to be supplied to cities outside Chandigarh. The entire stock was confiscated, and the premises were sealed immediately.
Following the department’s action, the local police also registered a case, and joint teams are now investigating the source and intended destination of the seized liquor. Authorities said operations will continue in the coming days to curb the illegal distribution and smuggling of alcohol.