DRI seizes smuggled areca nuts worth Rs 32 crore at Navi Mumbai’s JNPT Port

The containers were stopped at the JNPT 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, the DRI said.

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 contained areca nuts, which were being smuggled into India under the guise of calcium nitrate, the agency stated on Sunday.

The government has put a tariff value of USD 10,379 per metric tonne on areca nuts brought into the country from outside. Hence, the entire consignment of 3,71,090 kg (371 metric tonnes) of areca nuts is valued at approximately Rs 32.31 crore and has been seized.

The areca nuts in split form, attract an effective customs duty rate of 110% of their value. Hence, the attempted duty evasion in this case by way of misdeclaration is approximately Rs 36 crore.

This is one of the biggest seizures of smuggled areca nuts in the country, the DRI said.