The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 43.2 lakh foreign-origin cigarette sticks worth ₹8.64 crore from a truck intercepted at Tuirial village in Mizoram. Officials recovered 432 cases of Patron-brand cigarettes allegedly smuggled from Myanmar through Zokhawthar. The consignment lacked mandatory health warnings, and the truck driver was arrested.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dealt a significant blow to cross-border cigarette smuggling in the North-Eastern region, seizing 43.2 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at Rs 8.64 crore in an intelligence-led operation in Mizoram today. The consignment, suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar, was intercepted while being transported towards Aizawl.
Truck intercepted on Champhai–Aizawl Road
Acting on specific intelligence that a truck was transporting a substantial quantity of foreign-origin cigarettes towards Aizawl, officers of the DRI Aizawl Regional Unit mounted surveillance along the Champhai–Aizawl Road. The vehicle was intercepted at Tuirial village. A thorough examination of the truck led to the recovery of 432 cases containing 43,20,000 sticks of “Patron” brand foreign-origin cigarettes.
👉 DRI seizes more than 43 lakh foreign-origin smuggled cigarettes worth Rs. 8.64 crore in Mizoram; one arrested
👉 Intelligence-led interception on Champhai–Aizawl Road again exposes suspected cigarette smuggling from Myanmar
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/sKxqmJxEDv
#DRIAtWork https://t.co/DMI5FNtqvR
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) October 19, 2026
Cigarettes seized, truck driver arrested
Examination revealed that the cigarette packets did not carry the mandatory pictorial and health warnings prescribed under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. The cigarettes, along with the truck, were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962. The driver of the truck was arrested.
