Smuggling of Cigarettes - Injurious to Nation's Health - Huge Haul by DRI
CIGARETTE is a milch cow for every Finance Minister and successive ministers have ensured that what goes up in smoke really comes back to the treasury as taxes. The high duty rates have ensured that smuggling of cigarettes is a lucrative business.
This week, the DRI seized foreign cigarettes worth nearly ten crore rupees from a container which arrived at Krishnapatnam Port from UAE. The cigarettes were cleverly concealed inside the container behind several cartons of Honeymoon Comfort Synthetic Bed Sets. The offending bed sets used for concealing the contraband goods, were also seized by DRI.
Too much taxation will not always result in more revenue, but may encourage smuggling.