DRI and Customs Seize 10.23 MT of
Red Sanders worth Rs 6 crore from an Export Consignment at ICD Palwal, Haryana
In line with its commitment to preserve
the natural resources of the nation, in yet another successful operation on 16.09.2022,
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has recovered 10.23 MT of Red Sanders,
estimated at Rs 6 crore in the international market, from an export consignment
that was destined for Singapore.
Intelligence developed by DRI indicated
that red sanders logs, concealed in an export consignment declared to contain “static
convertor/rectifier and wire harness cable”, were in the process of being
smuggled out of the country. Based on the said intelligence, the officers of DRI
intercepted an export bound container at ICD Palwal, which was also put on hold
by the ICD Palwal Customs officers, having been informed as suspicious by the Custodian
of the said ICD.
Examination of the said container by the
DRI officers, along with the customs officers of ICD Palwal, led to the recovery
of 10.23 MT of red sanders - an item mentioned in the Appendix II of CITES (Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The export
of red sanders from India is prohibited/restricted, as per the Foreign Trade Policy.
The said container was in the process
of being exported using fake documents of a Noida SEZ based entity, following a
similar Modus Operandi busted by DRI earlier. Preliminary enquiry by the
DRI has revealed that the documents used for the said export are fake and manipulated.
Even the registration number of the truck, used for transport of the said container
to the ICD Palwal, is manipulated. The recovered 10.23 MT of red sanders logs, valued
at Rs 6 crore (approx.), along with the truck have been seized under the Customs
Act, 1962. Further investigations are in progress.
DRI has made seizure of 110.26 MT
of red sanders in eleven instances at different ICDs/ports, since November 2021.
DRI remains committed to continue its relentless crackdown against those attempting
to compromise the economic frontiers of India and misappropriating her rich natural
heritage