The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested four people and seized 71 lakh sticks of foreign-origin smuggled cigarettes worth 14 crore rupees since May this year, across the North Eastern Region.
Ministry of Finance said, it was done in a major crackdown against smuggling of foreign origin cigarettes. The preliminary investigation indicates that the cigarettes were smuggled from Myanmar through the Zokhawthar sector along the Indo-Myanmar border. The operation was carried out with the assistance of the 34th Battalion, Assam Rifles.
Since May 2026, operations conducted by DRI have led to a total seizure of about 71,00,000 sticks of foreign-origin smuggled cigarettes across the North Eastern Region, valued cumulatively at approximately Rs. 14 crore and along with arrest of 4 persons.
Among major operations, DRI seized more than 45 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes of brands such as Mond, XSo, ORIS and Patron in Mizoram on 11th June 2026. This operation was carried out with the assistance of the 34th Battalion, Assam Rifles.