Team News Riveting
New Delhi, September 19
In line with its commitment to preserve the natural resources of the nation, in yet another successful operation, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has recovered 10.230 metric tonnes (MT) of Red Sanders, estimated at Rs 6 crore in the international market, from an export consignment destined to Singapore, on 16.09.2022.
Intelligence was developed by DRI, Delhi Zonal Unit (DZU) that Red Sander logs were concealed in an export consignment declared to contain “static convertor/rectifier and wire harness cable” for being smuggled out of the country.
Based on the said intelligence, the officers of DRI, Delhi Zonal Unit intercepted an export bound container at ICD, Palwal which was also put on hold by the port customs being informed suspicious by the custodian at the Port.
Examination of the said container by DRI officers in association with the customs led to the recovery of 10.23 MT of Red Sanders logs, an item mentioned in the CITES and prohibited for export.
The said container was stated to be exported by a Noida SEZ based entity following a similar Modus Operandi busted by DRI, earlier. Preliminary enquiries by the DRI have revealed that the documents used for the said export are fake and manipulated. Even the registration of the truck used for transport of the container was found manipulated.
10.23MT of Red Sander logs valued at Rs 6 crore (approx.), along with the truck have been seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigations in the matter are underway. The period from Nov, 2021 has witnessed substantial seizures of red sanders. Seizure of 9.98 MTs of Red Sanders at ICD Piyala and 12.1 MTs at Nhava Sheva in Nov, 2021, 9.426 MTs of Red Sanders at ICD Tughlakabad and 12.03 MTs at Mundra Port in Dec, 2021 and 11.711 MTs at Mundra port in March, 2022.
DRI remains committed to continuing its relentless crackdown against those attempting to compromise the economic frontiers of India and misappropriating her rich natural heritage.
