GUWAHATI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 71 lakh sticks of foreign-origin smuggled cigarettes worth approximately ₹14 crore and arrested four individuals in a series of coordinated operations carried out across the North Eastern Region since May 2026.
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According to the Ministry of Finance, the operations were launched as part of a major crackdown on the illegal smuggling of foreign-origin cigarettes into India through the country's northeastern borders.
One of the largest seizures took place in Mizoram on June 11, when DRI officials, with the assistance of the 34th Battalion of the Assam Rifles, intercepted and seized more than 45 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes belonging to brands such as Mond, XSo, ORIS, and Patron. One person was arrested in connection with the operation.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the cigarettes were smuggled into India from Myanmar through the Zokhawtha