Ahmedabad, Jan 16 (PTI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized mobile accessories, e-cigarettes, branded bags and cosmetics worth Rs 80 crore from Mundra port in Gujarat’s Kutch district and arrested two persons, an official said on Monday.
He claimed that the articles were in consignment of ladies footwear and accessories, with a declared worth of Rs 1.5 crore.
According to an official release, two people were arrested after a probe found that the importers didn’t exist at the registered premises.
DRI officials were informed that Chinese goods had been misdeclared to be ladies footwear and garment accessories. They also likely contained high-end electronic goods.
The SEZ route was being used to clear the goods, and six suspect containers were identified, according to the release.
It stated that the DRI discovered 33,138 pieces Apple battery/airpods, 4,800 electronic cigarettes, 7.11 lakh mobile/electronic accessories, 29,077 branded bags and shoes, 58.927 automotive parts, and 53,385 branded watches.
“The value of the alleged misdeclared/smuggled goods is estimated at Rs 80 crore against the declared value of Rs 1.5 crore. Accordingly, the goods were seized under the provisions of the Indian Customs Act, 1962,” it said.
It also found that the importers didn’t exist at the registered premises. Additionally, the syndicate had previously used dummy immigrants to smuggle such products in the past.
The Customs Act led to two arrests and further investigation were ongoing, according to the release.
Recent seizures by the DRI of Chinese-made toys and cosmetics, worth Rs 64 crore, were made. Similar imports of cosmetics totalled Rs 74 crore. It stated that it had also taken e-cigarettes as well as foreign brand cigarettes in the amount of Rs 134 crore. PTI KA ARU ARU
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