DRI seizes container carrying banned Chinese firecrackers

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today seized a container, carrying banned Chinese firecrackers valued at Rs 71.69 lakh, imported illegally by a Surat based firm.
The consignment was kept at a container station in Raigad district of Maharashtra, said a release by the agency.
The owner of the Surat based firm was arrested by the DRI last month after the agency found Chinese firecrackers having market value of more than Rs 1 crore in the previous consignment imported by him.
While the mastermind is still behind bars, as the court has rejected his bail application, DRI-Surat had received a tip off that the company has imported one more container having firecrackers of Chinese origin, a restricted item, concealed within other declared items.

"Acting on the tip off, the container was then examined at Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai and it was found that besides other declared items, 339 cartons of firecrackers of Chinese origin valued at Rs 71.69 lakh were concealed in other items," the release said.
The import of firecracker is restricted and requires licence from Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) and the said firm is not holding licence for import of the firecrackers from China, the release added.