Bhandup Clearing Agent Arrested At Nhava Sheva For Rs 1.4 Crore Customs Evasion

On Thursday, the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB) (Import) of the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH) in Nhava Sheva arrested a clearing agent, who is a resident of Bhandup, for his alleged involvement in evading customs duty worth Rs 1.4 crore. The accused allegedly misdeclared and concealed imported broken cashew kernels with an estimated market value of Rs 3.52 crore.

According to Customs sources, the agency issued summons to the clearing agent after receiving specific intelligence that a company had wilfully misdeclared broken cashew kernels. The imported goods were found concealed under cashew husk pellets.

During the investigation, the accused appeared in response to the summons. His statement was recorded, in which he made several material admissions that established his active role in the import transaction.

The accused admitted that he financed the import himself using his personal savings, mortgaged gold, and loans from acquaintances.

A Customs officer stated that these admissions established that the accused was the actual person who arranged, financed, controlled, and executed the import transaction, despite the imports being made in the name of an import company. The officer noted that his role was not merely that of a Customs clearance agent, but that of the de facto importer.

The investigation is currently in its preliminary stages. Customs officials are conducting a further probe to uncover the complete conspiracy and identify all individuals involved in the operation.

Investigators are also working to trace the financial trail, including cash payments, import remittances, and sale proceeds. They aim to identify the actual beneficiaries and purchasers of the imported goods, as well as recover further documentary and digital evidence to break the larger nexus involved in the illicit activities.