Rs 10-crore Chinese crackers seized at container depot

NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized Chinese firecrackers worth Rs 10 crore at inland container depot in Tughlaqabad on Thursday. Officers said that the consignment was illegally imported by a Punjab-based trader. Punjab is one of the five states going to polls starting next month.
The smuggling came to the fore after a team of DRI officers intercepted containers in which items were being transported.According to senior officers, the crackers were found hidden in seven containers, which had cartons full of bicycle pumps and plastic packing.
“All seven containers were seized and we found that the crackers were being imported from China by Punjab-based trader. The crackers were hidden under other items in order to escape the customs’ check. The total market value of the crackers is around Rs 10 crore,” said Debi Prasad Dash, principal additional director general, DRI.
Officers said that the importer had been contacted for further probe and the matter was being investigated. With the elections round the corner, vigil at the airports, container depots and other areas has been stepped up to foil smuggling of illegal firecrackers. The Supreme Court imposed a blanket ban on the sale and stocking of firecrackers in NCR with effect from November 25, 2016.
Prasad said, “Chinese crackers contain sulphur and other hazardous chemicals, which pose a risk to our health and the environment. Foreign remittances in case of import of Chinese fireworks are generally made through hawala channel and such goods are sold illegally.”