ANDHRA PARDESH: Officials of the Customs Department conducted raids at several places in the State on Tuesday, and seized huge quantity of smuggled cigarettes. The seized stocks were valued at Rs. 25 lakh.
Following the instructions of A.P. Customs Commissioner Shaik Khader Rahaman, the customs officials raided several shops in Guntur, Vijayawada, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Tadepalligudem, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Ongole, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Ananthapuram, Chittoor, Tirupati, Nellore, Kurnool and Kadapa and seized the foreign cigarettes.
“There are no manufacturing dates and warnings on the packs. Traders are resorting to smuggling of foreign goods in different ways and are evading taxes to the government in huge amount,” said Mr. Rahaman.
A total of 35 brands of cigarettes including Rothmans, Camel, Dunhill, Marlboro, Pine, Gurleen, King Edward, Dolphin, Manchester, Cleopatra, Dzire, Classic, Mars, Prince and other varieties were seized in the simultaneous raids.
Customs authorities suspect that traders smuggled the cigarettes from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, China, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Nepal, United Arab Emirates and other countries. With the seizure of huge stocks of smuggled cigarettes, the Customs Department has intensified vigil across the State, said the Commissioner.
Public may alert the Customs officials by dialling over 9885566233, 9849848060 or 9866632834 on smuggled gold, cigarettes, drugs, fake currency or on any other illegal products, Mr. Rahaman added.
