Mumbai: The Customs Department seized 4,600 used laptops and 1,546 used CPUs, valued at Rs 4.11 crore, in Mumbai's Nhava Sheva area.
The seized laptops and CPUs were imported from UAE and the supplier is Hongkong based.
"On the basis of specific Intelligence developed by the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB) (Import) at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH), Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, have made one of the biggest seizure of 4600 old/used refurbished laptops of various brands (Dell, HP, Lenovo & others) and 1546 old/used CPUs, imported from UAE and the supplier is Hongkong based.
The estimated value of the seized smuggled goods is Rs. 4.11 crore," as per customs Nhava Sheva press release.
Upon thorough examination, it was found that the CPUs were used to conceal old and used refurbished branded laptops in good condition.
Importing such goods without proper authorization is restricted as per the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Policy, they said in the release.
In a unique modus operandi, the importers were attempting to smuggle old and used laptops by misdeclaring them as motherboard casing etc. through ICD Patparganj, Delhi, customs Nhava Sheva said in the release.
Following the seizure, SIIB (Import) conducted multiple simultaneous searches in Mumbai and Delhi, resulting in the arrest of the mastermind cum proprietor of the importing firm.
This action is part of ongoing efforts to curb smuggling activities.
In addition to the seizure of smuggled goods, a substantial amount of Rs 27.37 lakh in cash (sale proceeds of smuggled goods) was also recovered and seized from the importer's premises, they said.
Further investigation revealed two similar shipments at Delhi Air Cargo Customs. SIIB(I), JNCH officers shared this intelligence with their Delhi counterparts, leading to the seizure of around 2100 old and used laptops at Delhi Air Cargo.
"This remarkable seizure and subsequent arrests of mastermind by SIIB(I), JNCH is a testament to their unwavering commitment to combating illegal smuggling of restricted/prohibited goods and upholding import regulations for the integrity of the nation's trade ecosystem," they said in the release. (with Agency inputs)
