By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 15, 2016: DIWALI may be over but import of firecrackers notwithstanding the Government decision to ban imported crackers, continues unabated through various ports and dry ports. One reason perhaps is their unabated demand for multiple purposes such as large-scale use of firecrackers during marriages and anniversary parties. In a major operation the Delhi ICD Customs sleuths detected a container stuffed with firecrackers but misdeclared as Coffee Mugs.

As per Customs officials, the importer, M/s Kuber Enterprise from Ferozepur, Punjab, was intercepted on the basis of intelligence developed by officers of SIIB (Imports ). The contrabands were allegedly being smuggled in the guise of consignment of 1187 cartons Coffee Mugs (Ceramic). On examination, 1000 cartons of Firecrackers were found cleverly concealed behind 187 cartons of coffee mugs stacked at the gate of container so as to avoid detection of firecrackers at the time of examination by Customs. The goods were examined in the presence of the importers. The statements of Partners of Importing firm were recorded under Section 108 of the Customs Act 1962 in which both admitted to their wilful mis-declaration of firecracker, value of consignment and violation of provisions of The Explosives Act 1884 and the Customs Act 1962. Both the Partners were placed under arrest yesterday for violation of restrictions imposed on the import of firecrackers and for wilful mis-declaration.