2 held with foreign cigarettes worth Rs11.49-lakh at airport

Customs officials at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, seized a large consignment of foreign-origin cigarettes last evening during routine surveillance. Officials intercepted two passengers who had arrived from Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia Flight AK94 and recovered 67,600 sticks of branded cigarettes concealed in their baggage.

According to Customs officials, the seized cigarettes are valued at around Rs 11.49 lakh. The packets included major foreign brands which the passengers had allegedly attempted to bring into the country in violation of customs regulations.

The consignment was detained under provisions of the Customs Act. Both passengers were questioned, and further investigation is underway to determine whether the duo is linked to a larger smuggling network. Officials said strict surveillance continues at the airport to curb the illegal import of high-taxed items, including cigarettes.