Chennai/Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted major rackets involved in the smuggling of Chinese-origin fireworks and firecrackers into the country. The operations were carried out over the last two months.
This is part of the agency’s crackdown against the illicit import of hazardous contraband. A huge quantity of banned firecrackers was seized. They were being smuggled into India through ports in Chennai and Mumbai.
In Chennai, DRI officers intercepted two 40-foot containers originating from China, which were mis-declared as carrying “Trolley Bags” and “Sprayers”. Upon detailed examination, the containers were found to be concealing around 46,000 pieces of firecrackers and fireworks, ingeniously hidden behind cover cargo.
“In another case, booked on the basis of intelligence developed by DRI, Chennai Customs unearthed a smuggling syndicate involving the clandestine removal of 18.7 Tons of Chinese-origin firecrackers. Investigation revealed that the container carrying the contraband was illicitly taken out of the Container Freight Station (CFS) without Customs authorisation, the firecrackers were offloaded, and the container was subsequently brought back after being substituted with other cargo. The clandestine operation was facilitated through the active connivance of a CFS staff member. Two persons, including the involved CFS staff involved, have been arrested in the case,” a statement issued by the DRI said.
Import of firecrackers is ‘Restricted’ under the ITC (HS) Classification of the Foreign Trade Policy and requires valid licences from both the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) under the Explosives Rules, 2008. The illegal import of such hazardous goods poses serious risks to public safety, national security, port infrastructure, and the shipping and logistics ecosystem, the agency has said.
In May this year, the DRI had conducted a series of operations at Mumbai leading to the cumulative seizure of more than 100 Tons of Chinese firecrackers. In a case booked by the DRI at Mumbai, active involvement of employees of CFS in facilitating the smuggling and attempt to substitute the cargo was also noticed. Ten persons, including four employees of the CFS, one of whom was the exports manager, have been arrested in the case.
With the latest seizure, these operations resulted in seizures of Chinese firecrackers valued at around Rs 35 crore, and arrest of 12 persons.
