Mumbai: In one of the biggest seizures of its kind, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized Chinese-made firecrackers worth Rs 17.2 crore in containers at the JNPT port in Uran on Saturday, which were ‘misdeclared’ as cutlery items and kites.
The agency is trying to trace the consignee and believes the seizure was a part of a massive racket that is aimed at harming the local firecrackers industry.
According to sources in the agency, they seized six containers, around 40-feet-long, that had been sent from China. “According to the documentation, the containers were said to contain water glasses, ceramic coffee mugs, paper kites, but on examination were found to contain huge cache of firecrackers, concealed behind the first few rows of cover cargo.
The firecrackers are valued at over Rs 17.2 crore and while the cover cargo has been valued at around Rs 34 lakh,” said a DRI officer.
“Smuggling of cheap Chinese firecrackers is a big problem, not just from the safety angle, but also economically since they pose a big threat to the Indian firecracker industry that is predominantly based in Sivakasi and Silvasa,” officer said. The seizure was possible since the tip off received was very specific, he told.
