Specific Intelligence was gathered by the officers of Special Intelligence & Investigation Branch (SIIB), Mundra Customs of an unscrupulous importer from Mumbai indulging in illicit smuggling of Areca Nuts by resorting to misdeclaration in the description of goods. Intelligence further indicated that the goods had arrived at Mundra Port in containers from Indonesia.

Acting on the said intelligence, an imported consignment declared as ‘Damar Batu” was examined by the officers of SIIB, Custom Mundra. Upon examination, 27.81 MTs of ‘Areca Nuts’ having a tariff value of Rs. 1.5 Crore (apprx), found mis-declared in the said containers were seized by Customs, Mundra. Further investigations are underway to uncover more details and identify other individuals involved in the smuggling operation.

Import of Areca Nut attracts high tariff value and duty structure as high as 110%. In order to avoid the same, unscrupulous importers have adopted the modus to import Areca Nuts by mis-declaring the same. Customs Mundra has busted the nexus of many syndicates illicitly smuggling ‘Areca Nuts’ in recent times. During this financial year, persistent effort to stop illicit import resulted in seizure of Areca Nut consignments to the extent of 172.39 MTs having tariff value of Rs.10.38 Crore. In addition, during the current financial year, there has been a recovery of nearly of Rs. 15.00 Crore from the commercial frauds detected by the Customs at Mundra.  

AP/GP/JD

 

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