Steep rise in seizure of smuggled cigarettes

Between April and December last year, 78.72 lakh cigarettes worth nearly Rs. 5.5 crore were seized
Smuggling of foreign cigarettes has been on an unusual rise in Bengaluru over the past several months, ostensibly due to high demand in the city, say customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport. Between April and December 2015, 78.72 lakh cigarettes worth nearly Rs. 5.5 crore were seized. This figure represents a steep rise from the 4.6 lakh cigarettes, valued at around Rs. 32.5 lakh, seized during the 2014-2015 financial year.
At least three to four cases of foreign cigarettes being smuggled have been reported daily over the past several months, a source in the Customs Department said.

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