Importers have employed a unique modus operandi with respect to the clandestine import of each of these goods, including misdeclaration of description and quantity and usage of false documents in order to evade customs duty.
Mumbai Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate which deals with anti-smuggling functions in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad andand Palghar has seized smuggled goods worth Rs50 crore in the last financial year. The seized goods comprise items like gold, saffron, expensive electronics such as LED TVs and mobile phones, high end branded consumer goods and cigarettes.
Importers have employed a unique modus operandi with respect to the clandestine import of each of these goods, including misdeclaration of description and quantity and usage of false documents in order to evade customs duty.
Several cases have been booked under the violation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), wherein smugglers have misdeclared the brand as well as the value of the goods. Consignments of high end branded consumer products such as handbags, leather belts, wristwatches, sport shoes from the likes of Gucci, Armani, Prada and RADO have been seized.
Particular cases of large consignments include smuggling of cigarettes worth Rs1.86 crores in pencil boxes from Dubai, and saffron of Iranian origin worth Rs1.57 crores. In most of these cases when goods were seized without valid import documents and under false names and invoices, they were not claimed by anyone and accused persons could not be apprehended. In cases where the importers were caught, they were made to pay the requisite customs duty along with a penalty fine.
Seizure of smuggled goods (2015-16)
Out of 22 cases
5 cases: 13009.35kg glass chatons worth Rs11.02 crore
5 cases: branded cigarettes worth RS2.18crore
1 case: branded consumer goods worth Rs8.14 crore
1 case: 92.775kg of superior quality saffron worth Rs55.65 lakhs
2 cases: LED TVs worth 1.30 crore
3 cases: mobile phones worth Rs2.8 crore
2 cases: silver jewellery 481.6kgs worth Rs5.5 crore
3 cases: imported household items, Sugar boiled candy and Memory Cards
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