Mumbai: DRI seizes 50 metric tonnes of areca nuts worth Rs 4.43 crore

The undeclared areca nuts seized by DRI

In a remarkable operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Tuesday busted a nefarious gang involved in the smuggling of areca nuts (also called betel nuts or supari). Employing an ingenious modus operandi, the DRI managed to unearth a racket wherein undeclared areca nuts were surreptitiously placed within containers carrying declared cover cargo during transit from port to Container Freight Stations (CFS).

This resolute crackdown on the smuggling network has led to the arrest of five individuals and the seizure of over 50 metric tonnes of areca nuts worth Rs 4.43 crore, from two cases. Areca nuts attract customs duty at 100 per cent on the prevailing tariff value of $9093 per metric tonne, and to avoid paying it, the gang attempted to smuggle the nuts.

The first case arose from targeted intelligence, prompting the DRI to halt a 40-foot container dispatched from Dubai, the UAE to Mumbai. The shipment was registered as ‘Quick Lime Lumps' in official records. "A meticulous inspection uncovered approximately 25.9 metric tonnes of split areca nuts concealed within the cargo. Valued at around Rs 2.23 crore, the seized areca nuts were impounded under the authority of the Customs Act, 1962," officials said in a statement.

In a subsequent operation, the DRI intercepted another 40 ft container also originating from Dubai, UAE. Despite its official declaration as ‘gypsum powder,' an extensive investigation revealed the container held 25.8 metric tonnes of whole areca nuts, carefully packed in jute bags. The confiscated areca nuts, valued at roughly Rs 2.2 crore, were seized in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Intensive investigative efforts led to the arrest of two individuals, including the Importer Exporter Code (IEC) holder associated with the first case. Subsequent inquiries unveiled an even more extensive network of smuggling. Additional containers were discovered to have been similarly exploited for the illegal movement of areca nuts. Acting on intelligence-derived insights, the DRI apprehended three more individuals, all of whom disclosed the elaborate smuggling methodology.

"This successful endeavour underscores the dedication of DRI officers in their ongoing fight against smuggling. The diligent investigation and breakthrough in dismantling the smuggling network stand as a testament to the agency's commitment to upholding law and order," the statement reads further.