3 nabbed for smuggling racket, used MFDDs worth over 10 crores seized by DRI from Pipavav port

Ahmedabad:

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) after busting a smuggling attempt of old and used Multi-Functional Digital Devices at Pipavav port in Guajrat has seized such goods worth over Rs 10 crore.

3 persons – Operations Manager of a container freight station (CFS) , mastermind of the smuggling racket and Customs House Agent (CHA) have been arrested by DRI and have been sent to jail. Some officers of Customs Pipavav have also been transferred and suspended and their roles are under DRI investigation

A DRI official today said that specific intelligence was developed by the DRI Zonal Unit, Ahmedabad that a consortium consisting of unscrupulous importers, Container Freight Station (CFS) manager, Customs House Agent (CHA) was indulged in import of old and used Multi-Functional Digital Devices (photocopiers/printers/plotters) in violation of provisions of Foreign Trade Policy, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard) and Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. For Import of old and used MFDDs, Authorization/Licence from DGFT is required as they fall under the category of restricted item as per DGFT Notification. Besides, the import of old and used MFDDs also require BIS Registration Certificates and Pollution Control Board Certificate etc.

‘ It was further gathered that this consortium has already cleared 12 forty feet containers containing old and used MFDDs without compliance to the policy provisions. Acting upon the said intelligence officers of DRI, Ahmedabad and DRI Jamnagar intercepted 10 forty feet containers at Contrans Logistics CFS , Pipavav which were awaiting clearance from Customs authorities. Out of these 10 containers Bills of Entry were already filed for customs clearance of 4 containers by mis-declaring the MFDDs as “parts and accessories” to bypass the policy provisions. These 10 containers were 100% examined by DRI officers and it was found that all 10 containers were containing old and used MFDDs,’ he informed.

The DRI official said, ‘ It was also gathered that other 6 forty feet containers of old and used MFDDs were in pipeline and they were also mis-declared as “parts and accessories” in IGM (Import General Manifest) filed with Customs,Pipavav Port. After arrival of these 6 containers at Pipavav Port , they were also 100% examined by DRI officers and it was found that they were not “parts and accessories” but complete old and used MFDDs units. All 16 forty feet containers containing more than 2000 old and used MFDDs units worth estimated market value of more than Rs. 10 crores have been detained by DRI. On the basis of their confessional statements and evidences on record three persons – Operations Manager of Contrans Logistics CFS , mastermind of this smuggling racket and Customs House Agent (CHA) have been arrested by DRI and have been sent to jail. Some officers of Customs Pipavav have also been transferred and suspended and their roles are under DRI investigation.’

DeshGujarat