The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized more than 50 metric tonnes of arecanuts in two separate instances, officials said Wednesday. The officials revealed that five persons have been arrested in connection with the seizure. According to the DRI officials, the first interception took place last week when based on a specific input, a team seized 25.9 metric tonness of arecanut from a 40 feet container. The import cargo was declared as “Quick Lime Lumps” and it was being shipped from Dubai. A detailed examination of the container was done following arecanuts weighing around 25.9 MT in split form was found. The arecanuts valued at around Rs. 2.23 crore were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Subsequently, the DRI officials intercepted another 40 feet container which was also being shipped from Dubai and the import cargo was declared as “Gypsum Powder”. During the course of investigation, the officials learnt that the entire consignment was misdeclared and goods found inside were arecanuts in whole form, packed in jute gunny bags. Around 25.8 metric tonnes of arecanuts, valued at Rs. 2.2 crore was recovered during the examination. The investigators managed to identify and trace two persons including an IEC holder. They were then arrested in the first case. “The investigation later revealed that similar smuggling had been done through some other containers. Interrogation of arrested persons revealed that arecanuts in two more containers were smuggled in similar fashion by way of misdeclaration and replacement of the smuggled arecanuts stuffed in the container by the cover cargo (Quick Lime Lumps) during the container movement from the port to the CFS (Container Freight Station),” read the press note issued by the agency. Later three more persons involved in the smuggling racket were traced and arrested.
