Lok Sabha Question No. 779 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Smuggling of Cigarettes and Foreign Currency
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY, K. ASHOK KUMAR, CHARANJEET SINGH RORI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 779

SHRAVANA 2, 1937 [SAKA]

## Smuggling of Cigarettes and Foreign Currency

779. SHRI M RAJA MOHAN REDDY: SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR: SHRI CHARANJEET SINGH RORI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a) whether there has been a spurt in the smuggling of goods, particularly brand cigarettes and currency; foreign foreign
2. (a) if so, the details thereof the last three years and the current year; State/UT-wise via airports, seaports, roads with the reasons therefor; during along
- (6) whether punitive action has been initiated by the Government against offenders, if s0, the details thereof; and
- d) the other steps taken by the Government to prevent/check smuggling in the country including metro cities? being

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE [SHRI JAYANT SINHA]

(a; Yes. by the seizures made by Customs field formations as indicated below, there seems to be a spurt in the smuggling of brand cigarettes and forei gn currency: Going foreign

| Year            |   [Quantity of Cigarettes of foreign brands seized (In Thousands) | Value of Foreign Currency Seized (Equivalent Value in Rs. Lakh)   |
|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2012-13         |                                                          51768.88 | 453.46                                                            |
| 2013-14         |                                                          26435.92 |                                                                   |
| 2014-15         |                                                            114330 | 2889.288                                                          |
| 2015-16 to date |                                                          55890.06 | 718.89                                                            |
| Total           |                                                         248424.86 | 5444.578                                                          |

(b) and (c The details of cases booked in respect of smuggling of foreign brand cigarettes and foreign currency (year-wise, State/UT-wise via airports, seaports and roads) for the last three years and the current year and the punitive action initiated by the Department a8 per the Customs Act; 1962 are at Annexure-A

(d) All the Customs field formations including Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have been  alerted and sensitized to remain more vigilant to prevent smuggling of goods including foreign brand cigarettes and foreign currency. Alerts and modus operandi circulars are issued by DRI to field formations. Strict surveillance is maintained and special watch is kept at sensitive places    Inter-agency coordination with other   agencies is also maintained for   greater   exchange of intelligence   inputs to a check on smuggling activities. being keep

*****

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 779 For answer on 24.7.2015 SMUGGLING OF CIGARETTES AND FOREIGN CURRENCY.

| State/Union Territory                                | Year                     | Quantity of Foreign| Currency Seized Cigarettes seized (in Thousands)   | Value of Foreign Equivalent Value in Rs. Lakh)                  | Details of the Punitive Action taken by the Department                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Karnataka                                            | 2012-13                  | 321.8                                                                        |                                                                 | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Karnataka                                            | 2013-14                  | 832.92                                                                       |                                                                 | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Karnataka                                            | 2014-15                  | 870.8                                                                        |                                                                 | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Karnataka                                            | 2015-16 to datel         | 3238.28                                                                      |                                                                 | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Goa                                                  | 2012-13                  | 1098.4                                                                       |                                                                 | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Goa                                                  | 2013-14                  | 19.2                                                                         | imposed:                                                        | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Goa                                                  | 2014-15                  | 55.2                                                                         | 7.476                                                           | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Kerala                                               | 2015-16 to date          | 939.461                                                                      |                                                                 | Arrests have been made under                                                                                                                                              |
|                                                      | 2012-13                  | 1087.99                                                                      | 13.67 Customs Act, 1962, wherever                               | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
|                                                      | 2013-14                  | 422.32                                                                       |                                                                 | Preventive                                                                                                                                                                |
|                                                      | 2014-15                  | 405.62                                                                       | detention under COFEPOSA has 166.48 also been proposed wherever | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
|                                                      | 2015-16 to date          | 82.4                                                                         | 2.59 warranted:                                                 | @Action has been initiated under 99.08 Customs Act; 1962. Show Cause 85.46]Notices have been issued and 154.66/goods have been confiscated. Cases adjudicated and penalty |
| Maharashtra                                          | 2012-13                  |                                                                              | 151.23                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Maharashtra                                          | 2013-14                  |                                                                              | 68.93                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Maharashtra                                          | 2014-15] 2015-16 to date | 9262.72                                                                      | 463.12 250.54                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Tamil Nadu                                           | 2012-13                  | 5180.755                                                                     | 73.89                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Tamil Nadu                                           | 2013-14                  | 4852.4                                                                       | 224                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Tamil Nadu                                           | 2014-15                  | 239.051                                                                      | 423.5                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Rajasthan                                            | 2015-16 to date          | 1754.648                                                                     |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Rajasthan                                            | 2012-13                  |                                                                              | 16.02                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Rajasthan                                            | 2013-14                  | 71.16                                                                        |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Rajasthan                                            |                          | 95.2                                                                         |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Punjab                                               | 2015-16 to datel         | 29.2                                                                         |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Punjab                                               | 2012-13                  | 1194                                                                         |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Punjab                                               | 2013-14                  | 2251                                                                         |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Punjab                                               | 2015-16 to date          | 4551 979.6                                                                   | 212                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Delhi                                                | 2012-13                  | 14917.2                                                                      | 35.2                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Delhi                                                | 2013-14                  | 4000                                                                         | 752.38                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Delhi                                                | 2014-15                  | 17993.4                                                                      |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                      |                          |                                                                              | 400.75                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                      | 2013-14                  | 146                                                                          |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                      | 2012-13                  | 33                                                                           | 96                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                      | 2014-15                  | 23355.2                                                                      | 98                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Telangana (Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh) 2015-16 to date |                          | 1012                                                                         |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Telangana (Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh) 2015-16 to date |                          |                                                                              |                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                           |

| West Bengal    | 2012-13          | 679.4      |                                     | 40.11/Action has been initiated under Customs Act, 1962. Show Cause   |
|----------------|------------------|------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| West Bengal    | 2013-14          | 7404.319   | 143.94                              |                                                                       |
| West Bengal    | 2014-15          | 25726.2551 | 801.29                              | Notices have been issued and                                          |
| West Bengal    | 2015-16 to date  | 10256.8    | goods have been confiscated: 161.02 |                                                                       |
|                | 2012-13          |            | 2ocases adjudicated and penalty     |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14          |            | 10.33/imposed.                      |                                                                       |
|                | 2014-151         |            | 14.32                               |                                                                       |
|                | 2015-16 to datel |            | 2.19                                |                                                                       |
|                | 2012-13          | 171.4      | 3.03                                |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14]         | 463.8      | 1.03/Arrests have been made under   |                                                                       |
|                | 2014-15          | 830        |                                     | Customs Act, 1962, wherever                                           |
|                | 2015-16 to date  | 800        | warranted.                          | Preventive                                                            |
|                | 2012-13          | 1019.94    | 1.38 detention under COFEPOSA has   |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14          | 2212.6     | 983/also been proposed wherever     |                                                                       |
|                | 2014-15          |            | 0.0019 warranted.                   |                                                                       |
|                |                  |            | 0.76                                |                                                                       |
|                | 2012-13          | 210        |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14          | 160        |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2014-15          |            |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2015-16 to date  | 68.6       |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2012-13          | 102        |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14          | 714        |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2015-16 to datel |            |                                     |                                                                       |
| Andhra Pradesh | 2012-13          | 32.361     |                                     |                                                                       |
| Andhra Pradesh |                  |            | 1.3                                 |                                                                       |
| Andhra Pradesh | 2012-13          | 4443.8     |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14          | 13.68      | 11.38                               |                                                                       |
|                | 2014-15          |            | 212                                 |                                                                       |
|                | 2015-16 to date  |            |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2012-13          | 23.02      | 0.67                                |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14          |            | 2.5                                 |                                                                       |
|                |                  | 141.92     | 4.07                                |                                                                       |
|                | 2015-16 to datel | 243.89     | 1.25                                |                                                                       |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 2012-13          | 112.84     | 1.99                                |                                                                       |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 2013-14          | 455.23     | 55.47                               |                                                                       |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 2014-151         | 181.7      | 0.78                                |                                                                       |
|                | 2015-16 to date  | 158        |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2012-13          |            |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2013-14          |            |                                     |                                                                       |
|                |                  | 243.89     |                                     |                                                                       |
|                | 2015-16 to date  | 29.908     |                                     |                                                                       |