Ahmedabad:

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 34 containers with large quantity of raw sesame seeds worth over Rs 4.5 crores from brought from Sudan illegally by a North Gujarat based importer.

10 of the containers were seized from the factory premises of the importer in Deesa while the other 24 were seized from Mundra port.

A DRI official today said that specific Intelligence was developed that an importer based at Deesa in North Gujarat were engaged in the import of “Raw Sesame Seeds” at Mundra Port from Sudan without having the valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Licence for it. Search was carried out at the office cum factory premises of the said importer. The partner of the importer firm, confessed that he knew that the FSSAI License was required for the import of Raw Sesame Seeds. He admitted that they were importing sesame seeds without Licence from the Central Licensing Authority as required under Food Safety and Standards (Imports) Regulations, 2017. As per the said Regulations, no person shall import any article of food without import licence in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

’10 containers of imported Sesame Seeds which were already customs cleared from Mundra Port and were lying in their factory premises were seized. It was further gathered that they had imported 24 more containers of Sesame Seeds and they were awaiting customs clearance at Mundra Port. Officers of DRI, Gandhidham examined those containers. As those containers were also imported without FSSAI License, they were also seized. Thus total 34 containers containing approximately 612 tons of Raw Sesame seeds of declared value of Rs. 4.53 Crores imported have been seized. Further investigation was on,’ he said.

DeshGujarat