“The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended two non-locals on charges of smuggling foreign tobacco items worth over Rs 1.92 crore in the international market during the past 47 hours. Acting on a tip about smugglers from mainland India contacting counterparts in Manipur, a DRI team, led by a Senior Intelligence Officer, conducted a high-alert operation in Imphal. The team detained two suspects from Bihar and recovered 69 cartons of Esse Lights brand cigarettes of Korean origin and 15 cartons of Gudang Garam cigarettes of Indonesian origin concealed in a Tata truck. The contraband was smuggled into Manipur from Myanmar through Moreh. The accused were arrested under Section 7(1)(c) and Section 11 of the Customs Act, 1962, and handed over to legal authorities for further proceedings.”
