Ahmedabad: Customs officials at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) have seized more than 1.13 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes and intercepted three passengers arriving from Dubai.

The passengers, who travelled on an Emirates flight from Dubai, were stopped at the arrival hall after X-ray screening of their checked-in baggage raised suspicion.

A detailed inspection led to the recovery of a large consignment of smuggled cigarettes concealed inside the luggage, officials said.

According to the Customs department, the seizure included 280 boxes containing 56,000 sticks of “Mond” brand cigarettes and 286 boxes containing 57,200 sticks of “Gudang Garam” brand cigarettes, bringing the total to 566 boxes.

Officials said the goods have been confiscated under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Further investigation is underway to identify the intended recipients and possible wider smuggling networks linked to the consignment.