Tripura: BSF foils smuggling attempt, seizes valuables worth over Rs 2.29 crores
Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 15 (ANI): The Tripura unit of Border Security Force (BSF) in its ‘Special Operations’, foiled another trans-border smuggling attempt across the India-Bangladesh International Border and seized items worth more than Rs 2.29 crores and arrested two smugglers, informed BSF on Sunday.
“BSF troops gave a big jolts to the trans-border smugglers by successfully seizing huge quantity of contraband items, besides 20.5 Kgs Ganja, recused 29 cattle heads having combined seizure value worth Rs. 2,29,33,241 along with Rs 10,500 Bangladeshi Taka. Two smugglers have also been apprehended in two different operations”, stated the BSF.
The arrested people have been idfentified as Madhu Data (55 years) and Pranam Majumdar (35 years). The apprehended persons along with seized mobile phones have been handed over to Manu Bazar police station in South Tripura.
“During wee hours of May 14, on specific Intelligence input the troops of BOP Srinagar, Ex-109 Bn BSF conducted a special joint operation along with Police and successfully recovered huge consignment of 102 Bundles containing assorted clothing items along with one van one Motorcycle and three mobile phones having total seizure value amounting to Rs 2,22,98,000 from a Godown in South Tripura’s Sabroom”, added BSF.
Lear More‘In Conversation with Mr. Vivek Johri, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs’
FICCI CASCADE organized an “In Conversation with Mr. Vivek Johri, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs” on 12th May 2022. The objective of the session was to throw light on the smuggling scenario in India, enforcement of laws related to indirect taxes, steps taken to contain tax evasion and initiatives taken by CBIC to combat this menace.
Addressing the ‘In Conversation Series’ organized by FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) Mr Johri, said, “Gold, narcotics, and cigarettes are highly prone to outright smuggling. He further highlighted the extent of the menace and said that “At CBIC, we are going aggressively against illicit trade in these goods. In 2021-22, we seized 92,000 kg of narcotics worth Rs 17,400 crore, during this period, we also seized 14 crore cigarette sticks”. He added that artificial intelligence and data analytics are playing a pivotal role in targeting instances of smuggling which have significantly helped the department to deal with the growing menace of illicit trade.
Mr. Johri also shared those unscrupulous players indulging in illicit activities misuse free trade agreements, export promotion schemes, and misuse end user-based exemptions. He accentuated that CBIC is trying to overcome these challenges in a systemic way and have ramped up the use of technology in their operations with 22 cargo scanners at 16 locations to ensure 100% scanning of all containers coming into the country through gateway ports.
Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, FICCI CASCADE in his welcome address said that smuggling and illicit trade is increasingly hurting Indian economy and have crept into multiple sections of the society. Immediate steps are required, both in the form of policy intervention and awareness generation, to address this growing menace.
He highlighted that it is indeed heartening to see how CBIC is using AI, Blockchain, Machine Learning to strengthen the enforcement agencies in detecting such malpractices. Complimenting the GST council and CBIC for a well-balanced tax policy and maintaining equal thrust on revenue augmentation and strict handling of tax evaders. He apprised how this has led to effective compliance and record-breaking revenue collections. He further added that we can already see some green shoots and are hopeful that going forward collaborative efforts between government agencies and industries would bring fruitful results for the country.
Mr P C Jha, Former Chairman, CBIC and Advisor, FICCI CASCADE while moderating the session stated that the magnitude of illicit market is large and with passage of time it is proliferating at an accelerated pace. One in 3 FMCG household and personal goods available in the market, is not genuine. Similarly, one out of 4 FMCG packaged food items and one out of 5 tobacco products including cigarette sold is an illicit product. Mr. Jha highlighted that FICCI CASCADE study indicates that in FY 2013-14 due to illicit trade in respect of just 7 items, total loss to government revenue was about Rs. 39000 crores and sales loss to the genuine industry was about Rs 1,05,000 crores.
FICCI CASCADE, in pursuance of its agenda, has been organizing series of such interactions with experts to understand various facets of illicit trade and its impact on the economy.
Watch the session live at:. https://youtu.be/V_wl8b8aXhU
Coverage reportDownload Pdf
Goa cops raid pharmacy, seize cannabis-based products
The North Goa district police in Goa on Wednesday seized cannabis-based gummies, digestive power, and ‘churan’ worth Rs 2.23 lakh from an allegedly illegal pharmacy.
Arjun Khanna, the owner of the pharmacy ‘Cannadoc clinic,’ has been arrested under the relevant provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, according to North Goa Superintendent of Police Shobhit Saxena.
“When police went to the store, they discovered a variety of cannabis-infused goods for sale. The employee at a store in Goa was unable to present any paperwork when asked about the authorization or licences required for selling cannabis-based items” Saxena explained.
“As a result, the police seized all of the cannabis-based treatments and items weighing around 7 kgs after finding no authorisation from any authority to sell them in Goa. The whole cost is Rs 2.23 lakh “Saxena added to this.
This is the first police raid in the state on a pharmacy selling cannabis-based items, which is also known as a narco-tourism hotspot.
Lear MoreDRI seizes 11 kg gold worth over Rs 5 crore, foils smuggling attempt
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully foiled attempts of organised gold smuggling though air route by effecting two successive seizures in Lucknow and Mumbai last week, which had a common method of concealment of gold.
After having received precise intelligence on May 6, DRI officials inspected a consignment which had arrived from Dubai at Air Cargo Complex, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. In the import documents, the item was declared as sectional and drum type drain cleaning machines, but on careful examination, 5.8 kg gold valued at Rs 3.10 crore in disc form was found concealed inside two motor rotors of the machine imported in the said consignment.
The importer was located in South Mumbai and was arrested. The importer has been sent to judicial custody by a local court.
This seizure in Mumbai was on the heels of another seizure made by DRI Officers in Lucknow a day earlier on May 5. In that case too, DRI intercepted an import cargo said to contain an electrical threading machine at Air Cargo Complex of Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, and gold discs were found concealed in the machines in a very similar fashion. Total 5.2 kg gold, valued at Rs 2.78 crore, was seized in this case.
Lear MoreRM2mil worth of contraband cigarettes seized in Kepong Baru
KUALA LUMPUR: The Central Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) crippled a cigarette-smuggling syndicate with the seizure of 8,207 cartons of various brands of the contraband, estimated to be worth RM2mil, in Kepong Baru, here, on Monday (May 9).
Cheras PGA Central Brigade commander Senior Asst ZulkifliJonit, in a statement, said a 55-year-old local man had been detained to assist investigation.
He said apart from the cigarettes, the PGA team also seized a mobile phone and an Isuzu D Max four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The syndicate is believed to have turned a rented house in a housing estate into a store to keep the smuggled cigarettes, he said, adding that the raid was conducted at the premises at about 11am.
He advised the public with information on smuggling activities to inform the police or the relevant authorities.- Bernama
Lear MoreThree arrested for printing, selling fake Indian currency notes in Thane
Police have arrested three men for printing fake Indian currency notes and selling them in Kalyan markets in Maharashtra. Printing machines, counterfeit notes worth Rs 39,500 and other note-making materials including water mark paper, photo rim were also seized from the accused’s possession.
The accused, identified as Rajnish Kumar Chaudhary, Harshad Khan and Arjun Kushwaha, all aged 19 were arrested from Kalyan railway station area when they reached the spot to exchange fake Indian currency notes.
Police had received information that the accused may reach ST stand located in front of Kalyan station to exchange fake currency notes. Acting on a tip-off, a trap was laid and the trio was arrested on the spot. Police also seized fake Indian currency notes which were in the denominations of Rs 200, 100 and 50.
Probe revealed that the notes were made at Rajnish’s house and then brought to the market for exchange.
Lear MoreTruck smuggling liquor in tetra packs to Bihar seized in Varanasi
A truck carrying a consignment of liquor worth Rs 5 lakh was seized in Varanasi that the police believe was being smuggled to Bihar.
The Varanasi Police and Drug Department raided a truck carrying a consignment of cough syrups and liquor worth Rs 5 lakh near the NatiImli road outpost.
The police had received information about a truck being loaded with cough syrups and liquor for illegal. Although the truck was seized, the drivers and smugglers managed to escape.
On examination of the goods in the truck, police found illegal cough syrups and liquor used in intoxicants stored in tetra packs. 1,200 vials of a cough syrup named Onrex kept in 10 boxes and liquor stored in 60 boxes was seized.
Amit Kumar Bansal, Drug Inspector (Varanasi), said that there is a possibility that this consignment was being smuggled to Bihar, where alcohol is banned. The total value of the goods seized was estimated to be around Rs 5 lakh.
Police and the Drug Department are investigating the case further.
Lear MorePalnadu police arrest 3, seize 2,016 liquor bottles
GUNTUR: Palnadu police on Sunday arrested three persons for illegally transporting liquor and seized 2,016 bottles worth `3.65 lakh in Piduguralla.
According to the police, acting on a tip-off, they conducted a vehicle search and found 50 cases of liquor being transported from Hyderabad to Vinukonda in a mini-truck. The police also found that an unknown person from Vinukonda is smuggling the liquor from other States.
The police arrested the trio and are investigating. Palnadu Superintendent of Police (SP) Siva Sankar Reddy said that stern action will be taken against those involved in the illegal transportation of liquor from other States. He also instructed the police officials to conduct regular raids.
Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) and police on Saturday and Sunday conducted joint cordon and search operations at Nandigudem, Korraprolu and PeddaManthanaalu in Nallamala forest to curb the ID liquor and arrack trading.
The Police and SEB teams found 180 kg of black jaggery, 20 kg of urea stocks, which are mainly used to manufacture arrack, along with 92 litres of arrack, one two-wheeler and an autorickshaw.The SEB teams also destroyed 4,000 litres of fermented jaggery wash stock.
Lear MoreForeign cigarettes worth Rs 16 lakh seized by Kamrup Police
RANGIA: Kamrup Police headed by SP Hitesh Ch Roy and Additional SP Asif Ahmed seized a huge quantity of foreign cigarettes from a parcel van of the Indian Postal Department acting on a tip off. According to the Kamrup SP, on receiving specific information, a team of Kamrup Police headed by SP Hitesh Ch Roy and Additional SP Asif Ahmed blocked the parcel van at Madanpur toll gate near Changsari on Wednesday evening.
The police took the vehicle to Changsari police station. After conducting a search operation, police seized 13 cartons of foreign cigarettes worth Rs 16 lakh. The cigarettes were being brought from Mizoram to Delhi. Police arrested Om Beer and Anil, the driver and handyman of the van.
Lear MoreSmuggled cigarettes racket busted in Delhi, 3,650 packets seized
New Delhi, Apr 27 (IANS): Delhi Police on Wednesday busted a smuggling racket of imported cigarettes and recovered 3,650 packets of illegally smuggled cigarettes, valued at approximately Rs 7.3 lakhs.
According to the police, a man, identified as Aamir Laeeq, 30, was arrested in this connection.
DCP, Central, Shweta Chauhan said a tip-off was received that a person, involved in smuggling of imported cigarettes, was standing near a house at RodgranFarashkhana area with cartons of illegally smuggled cigarettes.
Subsequently, a police team and conducted a raid and Aamir Laeeq was apprehended from the spot with illegally smuggled cigarettes.
“Preliminary enquiry has revealed that the recovered cigarettes were being illegally smuggled from Dubai,” the DCP said.
The police have registered a case under sections 7 and 20 of the Cigarette & Other Tobacco Product Act and further investigation is underway, the official added.
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=952560
Lear More