Two Arrested; Cigarettes Worth Rs 1.5 Crore Confiscated in Muzaffarpur, Bihar
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Patna, Dec 25 (NationPress) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has taken into custody two individuals and confiscated a substantial shipment of foreign cigarettes on Wednesday, as reported by officials.
The total worth of the seized cigarettes is approximately Rs 1.5 crore in the international market.
DRI received specific intelligence regarding the smuggling of cigarettes originating from Myanmar.
In response, they set up a trap at the Gaighat toll plaza located on National Highway 57.
“Upon the arrival of the two suspects, who were traveling in a container, we encircled the vehicle and apprehended them. They were using a container truck registered in Haryana,” stated a DRI official.
During a thorough inspection of the container, it was discovered that the cigarette shipment, produced in Myanmar, was concealed among bamboo in the container.
This cargo had entered India through the border in Arunachal Pradesh. During interrogation, the suspects provided information regarding the shipment and its transportation route.
The consignment was being transported from Guwahati, Assam, with its final destination being Delhi.
Both suspects are truck drivers and helpers, hailing from Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh.
The DRI officials, acting on precise intelligence, successfully set up a trap at the Gaighat toll plaza on National Highway 57.
The DRI team is actively pursuing this case, concentrating on both the backward linkage (the origin and production of the items) and forward linkage (the intended distribution network).
Ongoing investigations aim to gather further information to dismantle the broader network involved in this illicit trade.
The thorough follow-up by the DRI could potentially unveil a major trafficking network and cross-border smuggling.
Earlier, on December 21, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) carried out a significant operation in Muzaffarpur, leading to the arrest of an individual and the seizure of 2 kg of morphine on Saturday, valued at nearly Rs 5 crore in the international market.
This high-value substance was also smuggled into Muzaffarpur from Myanmar.
