ANI
03 Dec 2022, 18:03 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has searched 17 premises across Mumbai and Nagpur under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, covering office and residential premises of various persons involved in smuggling of betel nuts of Indonesian origin, which were smuggled mostly via the Indo-Myanmar border.
ED investigation has revealed a well-organized syndicate of suppliers of Indonesian betel nut, commission agents, logistic providers, transporters, hawala operators and buyers who were smuggling the betel nuts into India.
The agency initiated an investigation on the basis of CBI Nagpur FIR dated March 5, 2021 registered under relevant sections of law.
As per the FIR, many Nagpur-based traders, in connivance with various public servants, were indulged in smuggling of substandard betel nuts/areca nuts of Indonesian origin and falsely claiming the same to be originating from member countries of South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) and South Asia Free Trading Agreement (SAFTA) by using fake certificates of origin, the agency said in a statement on Saturday.
The agency said the accused used bogus and undervalued bills/invoices, thus causing evasion of payment of customs duty to the government. Further, the revenue intelligence authorities had also investigated the illegal smuggling of betel nuts and issued eight show cause notices.
"Fabricated domestic invoices were made and transported smuggled betel nuts brought to Nagpur and Gondia Districts of Maharashtra. During ED searches, an unaccounted betel nut of 289.57 MTs valued at roughly Rs 11.5 crore has been seized under PMLA at Nagpur. The godown owner could not supply the KYC of the traders who deposited the betel nut and failed to furnish any supporting documentation like stock register, bills, invoices, quality certificate, transport documents etc. ED has seized Rs 16.5 lakh in cash and various incriminating documents and digital devices," it said in the statement. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of International Travel News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to International Travel News.
More InformationNew Delhi [India], December 4 (ANI): In an analysis conducted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, India's states ...
© Provided by Xinhua An increasing number of people are interested in knowing China and there is no better way ...
(Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports) Brad Marchand scored a natural hat trick in the third period as the Boston ...
(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports) Artemi Panarin recorded his fifth career hat trick and collected a season-high four points ...
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has alleged misuse of Indian travellers' data ...
(Photo credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports) With two losses in the past three games, No. 23 Alabama will be ...
BEIJING, China: The Chaoyang District Intermediary Court in Beijing has begun compensation hearings for the Chinese relatives of those who ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. First Lady Jill Biden stressed that she wants everyone visiting the White House during Christmas to "feel ...
DUBAI, UAE: On November 24, countries participating in a five-day conference hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organization in Dubai ...
Fewer planes and helicopters will be flying tourists over Mount Rushmore and other national monuments and parks as new regulations ...
New Delhi [India], December 4 (ANI): In an analysis conducted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, India's states ...
© Provided by Xinhua An increasing number of people are interested in knowing China and there is no better way ...