cigarette trade in India shot up in the pandemic year FY21 with the value of illegal cigarettes seized set to record highest level in last five years, according to data presented in Lok Sabha on Wednesday by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).As per data provided by Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs (CBIC), till 21 February of FY21, ₹1772 crore worth cigarettes were seized.
This is almost ten times higher than the seizure in FY20 worth ₹188 crore. Previously, in FY16 and FY18, government seized cigarettes worth ₹2396 crore and 1893 crore respectively.
Value of seizures includes both smuggling across borders and domestic tax evasion.Answering a question by Lok Sabha member from BJP Jagdambika Pal,.