Delhi Police Seize Over 2.82 Lakh Banned Imported Cigarettes Worth Rs 1 Crore, Four Arrested

Delhi Police have arrested four people and seized more than 2.82 lakh prohibited imported cigarettes valued at over Rs 1 crore in a major crackdown on the illegal tobacco trade in the national capital.

The seizure was carried out in two phases following a tip-off received by police regarding the delivery of banned imported cigarettes in the Karawal Nagar area of northeast Delhi. Acting on the information, a police team laid a trap in Shiv Vihar on August 4.

According to officials, three men arrived at the spot on a motorcycle carrying gunny bags and were waiting to hand over the consignment to a customer. When the intended buyer failed to arrive and the suspects attempted to leave, police intercepted them.

The arrested accused were identified as Ankit (35), Vishal (28) and Rahul (36), all residents of Karawal Nagar. During the search, police recovered 79 cartons containing 12,640 imported cigarettes manufactured in Indonesia.

Officials said the cigarette packets did not carry the mandatory statutory health warnings required under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), making them illegal for sale in India. The motorcycle allegedly used for transporting the contraband was also seized.

During interrogation, the accused revealed details about their supplier. Based on the information, police traced and arrested Neeraj Kapoor (55) from Delhi on Wednesday.

A subsequent raid at a warehouse in the Budhpur Industrial Area led to the recovery of around 2.70 lakh additional prohibited imported cigarettes of different brands, taking the total seizure to 2,82,640 cigarettes.

Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the COTPA Act at Karawal Nagar police station. Further investigation is underway to identify the source of procurement, track financial transactions and uncover the wider network involved in the illegal import and distribution of banned tobacco products.

Officials said Rahul had a previous case related to theft and snatching, while the other three accused had no prior criminal record.