New Delhi: In a significant operation against international tobacco smuggling, the Delhi Police apprehended five individuals and confiscated a staggering 242,000 foreign cigarettes allegedly smuggled from Dubai and Bangkok, officials reported on Friday.
Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement intercepted the suspects during the early hours of June 2 and 3 outside Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport. The seized cigarettes, which belonged to various brands, were found to lack the mandatory health warnings required by Indian law, rendering them illegal for sale in the country.
According to police sources, a specialized team from the Crime Branch conducted the surveillance and interception operation. The five suspects had arrived on different international flights, each carrying unusually large bags.
🚨 HUGE BUST BY ISC, CRIME BRANCH – 🚨
— Crime Branch Delhi Police (@CrimeBranchDP) June 6, 2025
💥 INTERNATIONAL SMUGGLING RACKET EXPOSED! 💼✈️
🛑 2.42 LAKH ILLEGAL FOREIGN CIGARETTES SEIZED! 🚬❌💰 Worth crores
👤 5 COURIERS ARRESTED near IGI Airport 🛫
⚠️ Brands like ESSE CHANGE, MOND, KT&G📦 All without mandatory Indian health… pic.twitter.com/cxGS626fCc
“Each individual was found with two oversized bags filled with foreign cigarettes. Their similar methods of operation and synchronized arrivals suggest a coordinated network of couriers operating under the direction of both overseas and domestic handlers,” stated Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam.
The suspects were identified as Vivek Kumar Kanojia (54,000 sticks), Zakir Alam (64,000), Md Shoaib (36,000), Gulsanawar (44,000), and Nazish (44,000). All five are residents of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
In total, the operation resulted in the seizure of 242,000 cigarette sticks, packed in ten bags. During interrogation, the suspects admitted to working as couriers for a well-organized smuggling syndicate. They claimed they were promised between ₹70,000 and ₹80,000 per trip, after deducting travel expenses.
The smugglers meticulously booked their tickets and arranged accommodations abroad, primarily in Dubai or Bangkok, where they received bags filled with contraband tobacco products destined for delivery in India.
“Interestingly, the accused claimed they did not know one another and were recruited independently, suggesting a hub-and-spoke smuggling model. This decentralized structure allows the masterminds to remain insulated from law enforcement,” the DCP explained.
The syndicate strategically selected international flights at unconventional hours to evade scrutiny at customs. Upon arrival in Delhi, local handlers were poised to collect the smuggled goods.
All five individuals involved hail from financially distressed backgrounds and were either unemployed or engaged in low-paying jobs, according to police reports. They were enticed by the allure of quick financial gain.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify the kingpins and map the broader network implicated in this transnational smuggling operation.
