Mumbai customs seized smuggled goods worth Rs 50 crore in FY16
Photo: Representational
According to a senior customs official, smuggled goods valued at Rs 50 crore, including high-end branded consumer items, mobile phones, gold and silver, were seized by the Mumbai Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate during the fiscal 2015-16.
The seized goods included cigarettes, glass chatons, high-end branded consumer items, Iranian saffron, Italian silver jewellery, 24-carat gold biscuits, LED TV sets, cold rolled grain oriented steel sheets, multi-media accessories and high-end mobile phones.
“We have seized smuggled goods valued at Rs 50 crore during the fiscal 2015-16. Smuggled goods worth around Rs 35 crore were seized in the fiscal 2014-15,” Principal Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Mumbai, Abhay Kumar Jyotishi told reporters during a press conference yesterday.
He added that smuggling is taking place in the country though its quantum has definitely come down over the years, and that the department has not found involvement of any organised gang in the smuggling activities.
Speaking on change in smuggling trends, he said given the high security at airports and ports, the smuggled goods are being brought through alternative routes. Jyotishi explained, “First they are being brought to neighbouring states like Gujarat from where they are being transferred to Mumbai through trains.”
The Commissionerate has filed a number of cases in respect of IPR (intellectual property right) violation too during the year.
