(a) whether the Government is aware of flooding of illegal cigarettes into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware of ITC report indicating fall in sale of domestic cigarettes in view of flooding of illegal foreign cigarettes and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to prevent entry of illegal cigarettes into the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) No such study has been conducted by the Government of India in this regard.
(b) No.
(c) As border control agencies, field formations of Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) keep constant vigil at ports, airports, land Customs Stations, Inland Container Depots, Foreign Post Offices and Courier Terminals to thwart any attempt of smuggling/illegal imports. On detection of cases, action is taken in accordance with the Customs Act, 1962, as applicable.