Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized red sanders worth ₹5 crore at Nhava Sheva on Tuesday. Senior officials said the sanders were concealed in 26 jumbo bags of iron bauxite meant for export from the port and nearby areas. The DRI conducted follow-up raids at three locations: Nhava Sheva port, a godown at Koperkhairne, and the local air cargo unit.
The first interception of red sanders at the port and the godown was made on January 24, and subsequently Mohammad Omar was arrested on January 25. “We had received leads following the arrest,” said a senior official.
According to reports, as much as 3,250 kilograms of sanders were seized at Koperkhairne, 8,720 kg at Nhava Sheva port, and 204 kg red sanders and 101.5 kg sandalwood were seized at the air cargo unit.
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“The value of Koperkhairne seizure is ₹1.30 crore, while at the port, the seizure is ₹3.48 crore, and ₹16.30 lakh worth seizure was made at the air cargo unit,” said the official.
In another follow-up operation soon after, the DRI seized illegally-declared cigarettes worth ₹2.2 crore at Nhava Sheva. As much as 22 lakh sticks of Gudang Garam cigarettes were falsely declared as ‘polypropylene injections’. “The sticks were hidden in 154 packets with each containing 60 parcels. A total of 22 lakh sticks were taken under our possession,” said another official.