Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai has seized areca nuts worth approximately Rs 32.31 crores at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
On the basis of intelligence, 14 containers (40 feet) destined for Inland Container Depot Talegaon were intercepted by DRI Mumbai at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port on August 31, on the suspicion that they may be containing areca nuts.
The containers were stopped at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust Port before they could be transhipped to the said dry port in the hinterland, as it was suspected that the cargo could be pilfered or replaced en route. As per the Import Manifest details and the declaration made in the Bill of Lading, the containers were to be carrying ‘Calcium Nitrate’. However, examination revealed that it was a case of brazen misdeclaration and all 14 containers had areca nuts which were being smuggled into India under the guise of Calcium Nitrate. The government has put a tariff value of 10379 USD per metric ton on areca nuts imported into the country. The entire consignment of 371090 kg (371MT) of areca nuts, valued at Rs 32.31 Crores (approx.), was seized.
The areca nuts in split form attract an effective Customs Duty rate of 110 per cent of the value. Hence, the attempted duty evasion in this case by way of misdeclaration was approximately Rs 36 Crores.
