New Delhi: In one of the biggest crackdowns on illegal vaping products in recent months, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a large-scale smuggling network involved in the illegal import and distribution of banned e-cigarettes and vaping devices across India.
During coordinated operations conducted in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal, officials seized nearly three lakh e-cigarettes and vape devices valued at around ₹120 crore in the international grey market.
Covert Tracking of Misdeclared Shipments
According to officials familiar with the investigation, the operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs indicating that banned nicotine delivery products were being smuggled into India through multiple ports, airports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs). Investigators suspect that the network had developed a sophisticated logistics and concealment mechanism to evade customs scrutiny while distributing the products across various states through underground supply channels.
The DRI, functioning under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), reportedly tracked several suspicious import consignments over the past few weeks before intercepting them at different customs checkpoints. Authorities said the consignments had been deliberately misdeclared in official shipping documents to avoid detection during inspection and scanning procedures.
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China Supply Chain and Concealment Tactics
Investigators revealed that the seized vaping products were concealed inside shipments falsely labelled as “furniture”, “metal chair parts” and other low-risk industrial goods. Officials believe the smugglers intentionally used generic cargo descriptions to reduce the possibility of customs intervention and bypass risk profiling systems used at ports and container terminals.
The seized consignment reportedly included vape devices and electronic cigarettes of multiple international brands, flavours and specifications. Preliminary examination by investigators has indicated that all the products originated from China and were routed into India through complex import channels involving intermediary logistics handlers and shell trading entities.
Social Media Promotion and Underground Distribution
According to investigators, the operation exposed not only illegal imports but also a wider distribution ecosystem allegedly involving wholesalers, online sellers and hidden warehouse operators. Agencies suspect that the products were being supplied through covert retail networks and promoted through social media platforms, encrypted communication groups and online marketplaces targeting younger consumers.
Officials are now examining financial records, shipping documentation, digital communication trails and payment transactions linked to the seized consignments. Investigators are also attempting to identify the individuals and companies responsible for coordinating imports, warehousing and nationwide distribution of the prohibited products.
Regulatory Mandates and Expert Warnings
Authorities stated that India had imposed a nationwide ban on electronic cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. The law prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes and related vaping products due to growing public health concerns linked to nicotine addiction and long-term health risks.
Investigators believe organised smuggling syndicates are increasingly exploiting loopholes in international trade systems and digital commerce networks to circulate prohibited products in India. Officials suspect that the racket may have links with overseas suppliers and underground distribution operators functioning across several countries.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh has previously warned that international smuggling networks are now heavily dependent on encrypted communication platforms, fake shipping documentation, shell import firms and digital payment mechanisms to conceal their operations. According to him, organised trafficking groups frequently combine online promotion, anonymous transactions and multi-layer logistics chains to complicate law enforcement tracking and avoid regulatory detection.
Officials involved in the probe said the investigation has now expanded beyond the seized consignments to examine whether earlier vape seizures across India were connected to the same network. Agencies are also monitoring suspicious import patterns and high-volume cargo routes that may have been used repeatedly by the syndicate.
Health experts have repeatedly expressed concern over the growing popularity of vaping products among teenagers and young adults despite the nationwide prohibition. Medical professionals warn that nicotine-based vape products may contribute to addiction, respiratory complications, cardiovascular risks and long-term behavioural dependence, especially among first-time users exposed through online marketing campaigns.
Meanwhile, forensic examination of the seized products, digital devices and shipping records is currently underway. Investigators believe further raids and arrests are likely as authorities attempt to identify the masterminds operating behind the illegal vape import and distribution network spanning multiple Indian states and foreign supply channels.
