Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod

Kasargod, Nov 15: Customs officers have seized a huge consignment of cigarettes worth Rs 8.18 lac which was being illegally transported at Kochi airport. Three persons from Kasargod have been taken into custody in this regard.

The arrested have been identified as Mohammad Idikunhi (50), Mohammad Kunhi (40), Adbul Kunhi (28) of Kasargod Pallikere. They arrived in the Gulf Air flight at 3.30 am.

As many as 1,28,400 cigarettes in 642 packets have been seized from them. The officials informed that the cigarettes are worth Rs 8.18 lac. They were hidden inside bags and illegally transported.

The cigarettes which reached Kochi from Dubai via Bahrain Airport, were seized when the customs officers grew suspicious and inspected the luggage coming out of the green channel in the airport. 

No statuary warning was printed on the packets as per the guidelines given by the health and family welfare department.

This is the first time such a huge amount of cigarettes have been seized in Kochi airport. The accused also confessed to have supplied cigarettes earlier via Mangalore, Bangalore, Kozikod, Kochi airports.

They were transporting cigarettes by flights which arrived early in the morning, and later to Mumbai by vehicles. It is learnt that there is high demand for these cigarettes in Mumbai.

A huge racket is suspected to be behind the illegal transportation of cigarettes. The customs officers informed that the arrested are involved in smuggling of other items as well.