Amritsar: In a significant enforcement action, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Amritsar regional unit, claims to have busted a smuggling syndicate operating through the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport following the recovery of high-end iPhones and counterfeit cigarettes.According to an official release, acting on specific intelligence, a DRI team intercepted three passengers arriving from Sharjah.Examination of their baggage led to a recovery of 45 high-end iPhones and a substantial quantity of counterfeit cigarettes, collectively valued at around Rs 90 lakh.The seized items were taken into custody under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, as the import of cigarettes (classified as prohibited goods) is not permitted. The officials added that commercial-quantity imports of mobile phones did not qualify as bona fide baggage and were liable to confiscation under the Customs Act ande th prevailing Baggage Rules.The DRI is conducting further investigation to identify the wider network behind the smuggling attempt, added the release.
