‘Operation Fire Trail': DRI seizes Rs 35-cr worth of Chinese firecrackers from Mumbai ports
The action, based on specific intelligence inputs, led to the interception of seven containers at Nhava Sheva Port, Mundra Port, and the Kandla Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
According to a statement by the DRI, the seized cargo weighing nearly 100 metric tonnes was illicitly imported in the name of a KASEZ unit and certain Import-Export Code (IEC) holders. The goods were falsely declared as 'Mini Decorative Plants', 'Artificial Flowers', and 'Plastic Mats' in an attempt to evade detection.
The press release noted that some of the consignments were routed through the Kandla SEZ with the intent of illegal diversion into the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA), in violation of the SEZ provisions. A key individual, identified as a partner of the SEZ unit, has been arrested for his role in the smuggling operation and remanded in judicial custody by the court.
The import of firecrackers is classified as 'Restricted' under the ITC (HS) Classification of the Foreign Trade Policy and requires licences from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) under the Explosives Rules, 2008. The DRI pointed out that the smuggled firecrackers contained banned chemicals such as red lead, copper oxide, and lithium, which are hazardous to health and the environment.
'Firecrackers pose a significant risk to public safety, port infrastructure, and the broader logistics supply chain due to their highly combustible nature,' the DRI said in its statement, adding that the successful seizure prevented potential threats such as accidental explosions and disruptions in cargo handling operations.
'This meticulously planned and seamlessly executed operation underscores DRI's resolve to detect, deter, and dismantle illicit networks that undermine the Exim trade ecosystem and endanger public safety,' the release said.
Further investigations are underway.
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