The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has conducted two major operations in the North East region, seizing approximately 60,000 kg of smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts. According to the Ministry of Finance release on Friday, these operations were conducted on May 21 and earlier in the week by the DRI's Guwahati Zonal Unit. The seizures were carried out in Mizoram and Assam, acting on specific intelligence received by the enforcement agency.
Initial investigations revealed that foreign-origin dried areca nuts were smuggled into India from Myanmar through the Myanmar-Mizoram border. As reported by the Ministry of Finance, the illegal influx of areca nuts from neighbouring countries is causing severe economic damage to domestic areca nut growers and undermining economic security in border regions. In one of the operations, the DRI was assisted by the 38 Battalion of the Assam Rifles. The ministry emphasized that these actions are part of ongoing efforts to protect domestic industries and maintain economic security in border areas.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the smuggling activities, according to the Ministry of Finance. The operations are part of continued efforts by enforcement agencies to curb cross-border smuggling networks operating in the North-East region. The ministry emphasized that these actions are part of ongoing efforts to protect domestic industries and maintain economic security in border areas.
Separately, on May 21, the DRI conducted a nationwide crackdown on an e-cigarette smuggling racket operating across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal. According to the Ministry of Finance, the anti-smuggling agency seized approximately 3,00,000 electronic cigarettes and vapes worth ₹120 crore. The operations involved enforcement at multiple ports, airports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) over recent days, with DRI identifying and intercepting suspicious import consignments that were misdeclared to evade customs scrutiny. The ministry noted that investigations revealed the seized electronic cigarettes and vapes were sourced from China and imported in concealment under items such as "Furniture" and "Metal Chair Parts."
