Mumbai: DRI makes historic seizure of betel nuts worth Rs 32cr

Updated On: 11 September, 2023 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan

The smugglers were attempting to evade R36 crore Customs Duty on split areca nuts

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Imported split areca nuts invite a Customs Duty of 110 per cent

In a seizure said to be of historic proportions, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 3,71,090 kg (371 metric tonnes) of areca nuts (betel nuts) worth Rs 32.31 crore, wherein the attempted Customs Duty evasion amounted to Rs 365 crore. Acting on intelligence information, the DRI Mumbai intercepted 14 containers, each 40 feet in length, bound for Inland Container Depot (ICD) Talegaon. The operation took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port on August 31.

The cargo was being concealed as calcium nitrate