By TIOL News Service

KOLKATA, JULY 20, 2020: ACTING on intelligence DRI officers intercepted a container at Allcargo CFS, Kolkata while the same was being taken out of CFS on fake and forged documents showing the goods were meant for transit to Nepal as they were shown to have been imported by a Nepalese firm. The consignment was declared to be containing Computer Parts imported from a port in U.A.E. Verification of the documents with Kolkata Port Customs revealed that no such declaration was filed before them and that the Customs officers signatures were forged on the documents. At this juncture, prior to clearing the container from the CFS, DRI intercepted the same. Forged documents were recovered from the possession of a member of the syndicate.

During investigation, it was revealed that three more such containers were in the pipeline for clearance in a similar fashion. All these four consignments were examined and it was found that there was a total mis-declaration of the goods in the import documents. As against the declared items such as computer parts, toiletries etc, goods such as 44.5 lakh Cigarettes of Gudang Garam brand worth Rs. 4.5 crores, cosmetics of reputed brands such as MAC, Maybellin, Revlon, Lakme, Hudabeauty etc worth Rs. 9.70 crores were also recovered apart from black pepper of Vietnamese origin and e-waste and other items worth Rs. 2.1 crores. The total value of the goods was estimated to be Rs. 16.31 Crores. Four accused have been arrested in this connection.

In the past too, DRI has foiled a similar smuggling attempt attempted in this fashion. Thus in December 2019, in a similar case, 58 MTs of Vietnamese origin black pepper worth Rs.2.50 crores was seized which was about to be diverted based on forged documents in exactly similar fashion. Investigation also revealed that the syndicate had in the past cleared few consignments of protein powder and computer parts using the same modus operandi.

The cosmetics smuggled appears to be counterfeit goods, resulting in Intellectual Property Rights violations as well apart from those under Customs Act. Likewise, the cigarettes are also violative of COTPA (Cigarettes and other tobacco products Act) in as much as COTPA requires stringent depiction of pictorial warnings on the packings, which were not found in this case. Consequently, there are serious implications on the economy as also health concerns for consumers at large. E-waste imports require prior permission of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The current seizure yet again signifies the need to combat cross border crime, which can have serious ramifications not just on the health of the economy, but also on environment and public safety and health.