Racket smuggling imported cigarettes busted in Delhi
Darpan News Desk IANS, 27 Jun, 2022 04:19 PM
New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) Three people were arrested for being involved in a racket smuggling imported cigarettes, an official said on Monday. The three accused, identified as Md Danish (39), Shoaib Riyaz (27) and Rajesh Kumar (50) were illegally bringing the imported cigarettes to India from Cambodia.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (central district), Shweta Chauhan, said information was received on June 26 that some persons involved in the smuggling of imported cigarettes are present in the IP Estate police station area having possession of cartons of smuggled cigarettes.
Acting on the tip-off, the team of Special Staff conducted a raid and apprehended the three accused.
During sustained interrogation, the accused persons revealed that they smuggled cigarettes via Cambodia. Earlier, they used to smuggle cigarettes via Dubai but due to heavy restrictions on the route, they changed the route to via Cambodia to bring cigarettes to India.
A total of 16,190 packets of illegal cigarettes and 570 packets of imported cigars worth Rs. 30 lakh were recovered from their possession.
Further investigation is being made to ascertain the magnitude of the offence and identification of other accused persons involved in the racket, the official added.
At a meeting with the Punjab Revenue Officers Association here, the minister assured representatives of the association that all their demands will be considered sympathetically, while asking them to immediately join their offices in larger public interest.
Chairing a high-level review meeting with officials of the NRI Affairs Department and members of the NRI Commission, he issued directions that the appointment of the nodal officers should be made in a transparent manner and working of these officers should be reviewed by the Deputy Commissioners on a regular basis.
On March 24, the police received a tip-off that two members of this cartel -- Dinesh and Nazir -- have collected a big consignment of heroin from Jharkhand and would come to Delhi to deliver the supply of contraband to one of their contacts.
Presiding over the valedictory function of three-day Punjabi cinema, television and theatre mega show jointly organised by the Punjabi Film and TV Actors' Association and Punjabi University here, he reiterated his government's firm commitment that no student would be bereft of higher education due to paucity of funds.
Nishad, the main accused has reportedly fled the country. Property worth Rs 36.62 crore belonging to Nishad and others were earlier attached by the ED. Gafoor, the director of Stox Global Brokers Private Limited, was arrested as Rs 39 crore which was reportedly proceeds of crime was transferred through his firm. The ED has claimed that his firm is basically a shell company.
