The Special Intelligence & Investigation Branch (SIIB) at Mundra Customs Department seized 27.81 metric tonnes of areca nuts, valued at approximately Rs. 1.5 crore, as it examined an imported consignment, officials said on Tuesday. The consignment goods were misrepresented, and an investigation is ongoing to identify other accused in the matter, officials added. As per a release, the areca nut imports attract a high tariff value and duty structure, reaching up to 110 per cent. Unscrupulous importers often resort to false declarations to circumvent these levies, it added. During this financial year, persistent efforts to stop illicit imports resulted in the seizure of areca nut consignments to the extent of 172.39 MTs having a tariff value of Rs.10.38 crore, the release added. In addition, during the current financial year, there has been a recovery worth Rs 15 crore in crackdown on commercial frauds detected at Mundra.
