The Railway Protection Force has seized smuggled cigarettes worth Rs 67.5 lakh at Hyderabad railway station.
The force based on Crime Intelligence branch information carried out a special check on parcels unloaded from Train No. 12724 Telangana Express at Hyderabad railway station. During the inspection, 15 parcels which were loaded in New Delhi were opened and found to contain 45 cartons with 4,50,000 pieces of foreign made Paris brand cigarettes. The parcels were booked from New Delhi declaring as grocery items.
As per sources, each cigarette stick is being sold in the open market at Rs15 to 20 according to the demand. So the total value of smuggled cigarettes is assessed at Rs 67.50 lakh approximately. The seized cigarettes were handed over to the Customs department for further legal action. In this connection, RPF Hyderabad also registered a case against the consigner for false declaration under Railways Act.
Raja Ram, IG-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force, South Central Railway, stated that smuggling of illegal cigarettes is impacting many aspects of Indian economy and is a major concern. He said that the Railway Protection Force will continue to conduct these types of drives in the coming days and vigilance will also be increased to curb smuggling of contraband.Â
