Hydroponic weed (Marijuana), gold, diamonds, foreign currency, cigarettes, automobile parts and garments are part of a list of illicitly imported and export goods —worth Rs 445 crore —seized at Gujarat’s ports and airports during the first five months of calendar year 2025.

“During the five month period from January-May 2025, Gujarat Customs Zone and DRI Ahmedabad zonal unit have together booked 101 cases and seized illicitly imported and exported items like gold, diamonds, narcotics, foreign currency, watches and various other goods worth ₹445 crore and arrested 41 persons,” Pranesh Pathak, IRS, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad Zone said on Monday.

Providing details of the seizures, Pathak said Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Gujarat busted a smuggling racked and effected massive seizure of prohibited e-cigarettes and other assorted goods like footwear, watches, consumer electronics, cosmetics, automobile parts, garments etc worth ₹80 crore. “Besides being misdeclared and undervalued, the goods were imported in violation of the provisions of Intellectual Property Rights,” he said during his address at seminar organised by FICCI on “Illicit Trade in Focus: State-level Action Against Counterfeiting and Smuggling.” In a separate seizure DRI officials caught hold of smuggled e-cigarettes, toys and a large quantum of counterfeit earphones of various brands worth ₹12 crore

Significant case

“In a significant case booked by Mundra customs commissionerate under Gujarat Customs Zone, a huge consignment of 8 million sticks of counterfeit cigarettes of a popular Indian brand was seized. In another case, a massive seizure of Tramadol tablets --- a psychotropic substance --- has been made by Mundra customs. These export consignments worth ₹150 crore were headed for western African countries like Sieera Leone and Niger,” the official added.

Speaking about smuggling attempts happening at airports in Gujarat, Pathak narrated a case booked at Ahmedabad airport, where customs apprehended two passengers carrying high value luxury watches valued at least ₹13 crore. “In another significant case, customs officers seized a packet containing 4.6 kilograms of hydroponic week or marijuana from a passenger coming from Bangkok,” he said, adding that the fight against counterfeiting and smuggling was a fight “for economic stability and public safety and national security.” 

Published on June 30, 2025