Customs seizes E-cigarettes and vapes worth Rs 93 crores at JNPT

Mumbai: The Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch (SIIB) (Import) at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH), Nhava Sheva, has seized approximately 1.16 lakh prohibited electronic cigarettes and vapes valued at around Rs 92.80 crore from two import consignments concealed inside containers declared as furniture.According to Customs officials, the seizure was made after SIIB (Import) officers developed specific intelligence inputs and placed holds on two suspected import consignments at JNCH. A detailed examination of the containers led to the detection of the contraband electronic cigarettes and vapes of the ELFBAR Moon Night 40K series in assorted flavours.Investigators said the prohibited goods were concealed inside containers mis declared as furniture in an apparent attempt to evade Customs scrutiny. Preliminary investigation revealed that the consignments had originated from China.Officials stated that the import of electronic cigarettes and all Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) is prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019.The seized goods are liable for absolute confiscation under Section 111(d) of the Customs Act, 1962, officials said.Further investigation is underway to identify the importers, overseas suppliers, and other persons involved in the smuggling attempt, as well as to ascertain the complete modus operandi adopted for evading Customs controls.