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Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully busted another sophisticated smuggling attempt involving illegal import of Chinese-origin crackers and crackers into India, it was announced on Monday.
According to a Finance Ministry statement, in the ongoing effort under Operation “Fire Trail” to counter illegal import of firecrackers, DRI seized 30,000 pieces of smuggled firecrackers worth Rs 5 crore at Mundra port and arrested one person.
During the operation, DRI officials intercepted a 40-foot container coming from China at Mundra port, which was described as a “water glass set” and a “flower pot”.
A detailed investigation revealed 30,000 pieces of crackers/fireworks hidden behind the front layer of the water glass set. The importer had no valid documents to support the import and admitted that the goods had been smuggled for monetary gain, the DRI said.
Earlier during the month of October, DRI had successfully foiled attempts of illegal import of Chinese firecrackers in Mumbai and Tuticorin.
In the month of October alone, DRI Mumbai Zonal Unit (MZU) seized illegally imported fireworks worth approximately Rs. 16 crores.
According to the ministry, import of firecrackers is ‘restricted’ under the ITC (HS) classification of the foreign trade policy and requires a valid license 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 dangerous goods poses serious risks to public safety, national security, critical port infrastructure, and the broader shipping and logistics chain,” DRI said.
It further said that it remains steadfast in its mission to protect the public from dangerous trafficking and maintain the integrity of the country’s business and security ecosystem by detecting and dismantling such organized smuggling networks.
–IANS
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