CHENNAI: An alert from
the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
(DRI) on Friday saying that fake currency and arms have landed at sea ports in the country, has led to a nation-wide operation by the
DRI
and Customs sleuths.
Soon after the alert was flashed, clearing of imported cargo both at sea port and airport in Chennai have been frozen from Friday evening.
The search operation began on Friday evening and went on till Saturday evening. While the authorities have found AK 47 rifles in an inland container terminal in Thuglagabad near New Delhi and fake crores of fake currency notes has landed in the Chennai port.
Though Customs officials were tight lipped about the currency, a senior Customs official told this correspondent that the container with the currency was zeroed in by the officials. It is said to have Rs 400 crore worth fake currency. However, this information finding fake currency in a container at the
Chennai sea
port was not confirmed by the DRI officials.
Already, a circular was sent to all officials from the Chennai Customs House stating that they have to report to duty on Sunday without fail. The Customs officials also have sought the help of CISF police personnel manning the sea port here.
With the container identified by the officials, the import cargo would be cleared from both the sea and airports since Saturday night, the officer said.