Apple Phones, Watches and Drones are the Hot Items in Smuggling, Dubai Customs Aids and Abets Act?

Mumbai Customs seized goods worth Rs 15 crore on Tuesday. The seized consignments included 1,470 iPhones, 322 Apple watches, 64 drones, 41 air pods, 391 cigarette sleeves and 36 auto parts.

Custom officials in Mumbai, Maharashtra, seized goods worth Rs 15 crore on Tuesday. These goods were allegedly smuggled through a postal route. According to sources, the seizure was made following an operation that began on February 17.

"Usually such items are found in cargo. But it is uncommon to find a parcel of this worth and so many items from Dubai. It was sent from the UAE postal service - Emirates," an official said.

The customs went through parcels at three different locations over seven days -- From February 17 to February 18, 12 consignments from Chakala MIDC Post Office were seized. From February 19 to February 23, 26 consignments from the Foreign Post Office in Ballard Estate, and five consignments from the Air Parcel Sorting Office in Vile Parle were seized.

The seized consignments included 1,470 iPhones, 322 Apple watches, 64 drones, 41 air pods, 391 cigarette sleeves and 36 auto parts.

The Rummaging and Intelligence Division of the Preventive Commissionerate, New Customs House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai, conducted a coordinated anti-smuggling operation.

"These goods were attempted to be cleared through the postal mode by mis-declaring the description of the goods, value and quantity, thus evading the applicable customs and IGST tax. During the investigation, the names and addresses of the consignees [recipients] of the said consignments were found to be fake/dummy," a press release said.