Chennai, December 24:
Chennai Customs have seized a huge haul of pesticides worth Rs 3.5 crore illegally imported in six containers from China here on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after displaying the seized pesticides to media at Gateway Container Freight Station in North Chennai, C Rajan, Commissioner of Customs (Seaport-Import), said, “On the basis of information that certain traders are attempting to smuggle pesticides and insecticides in the guise of chemicals, we intercepted six containers that were finally turned out to be a total misdeclaration of products and contained only pesticides instead of the declared chemicals.”
For importing pesticides and insecticides, importers have to obtain licence from Central Insecticides Board, New Delhi, and it comes with severe conditions. Since getting it is nothing less than a daunting task, these importers might have used this modus operandi to import pesticides under the name of chemicals, which do not require any import licence, Rajan said.
By this misdeclaration, the importers have evaded Customs duty of Rs 12 lakh, as the duty rate for pesticides is higher compared to chemicals, he further said.
The seized pesticides identified as buprofezin (48 Metric Tonnes), cyhalothrin (4 MT) and metribuzin (20 MT) were manufactured in China and loaded in these containers from the Port of Shanghai.
As the misdeclaration of cargo has been clearly established, Chennai Customs has registered cases against the seven importers, East West International, Chendur Enterprises, Ideal Traders, Rudhrag Biotics and Triton Logistics (all from Chennai), T Kumaran Traders, Kovilpatti and Tower Steels, Madurai.
According to another Customs official, these importers were engaged in importing chemicals via Chennai Port for the past two years. However, replying to a question on a possible collusion between Customs officials and importers for this misdeclaration, Rajan categorically denied of any such collusion.
Besides arresting a person for involvement in the case, licences of two Custom House agents had been cancelled and further investigations are in progress, Rajan said.
Chennai Customs have seized a huge haul of pesticides worth Rs 3.5 crore illegally imported in six containers from China here on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after displaying the seized pesticides to media at Gateway Container Freight Station in North Chennai, C Rajan, Commissioner of Customs (Seaport-Import), said, “On the basis of information that certain traders are attempting to smuggle pesticides and insecticides in the guise of chemicals, we intercepted six containers that were finally turned out to be a total misdeclaration of products and contained only pesticides instead of the declared chemicals.”
For importing pesticides and insecticides, importers have to obtain licence from Central Insecticides Board, New Delhi, and it comes with severe conditions. Since getting it is nothing less than a daunting task, these importers might have used this modus operandi to import pesticides under the name of chemicals, which do not require any import licence, Rajan said.
By this misdeclaration, the importers have evaded Customs duty of Rs 12 lakh, as the duty rate for pesticides is higher compared to chemicals, he further said.
The seized pesticides identified as buprofezin (48 Metric Tonnes), cyhalothrin (4 MT) and metribuzin (20 MT) were manufactured in China and loaded in these containers from the Port of Shanghai.
As the misdeclaration of cargo has been clearly established, Chennai Customs has registered cases against the seven importers, East West International, Chendur Enterprises, Ideal Traders, Rudhrag Biotics and Triton Logistics (all from Chennai), T Kumaran Traders, Kovilpatti and Tower Steels, Madurai.
According to another Customs official, these importers were engaged in importing chemicals via Chennai Port for the past two years. However, replying to a question on a possible collusion between Customs officials and importers for this misdeclaration, Rajan categorically denied of any such collusion.
Besides arresting a person for involvement in the case, licences of two Custom House agents had been cancelled and further investigations are in progress, Rajan said.
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