The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) nabbed an 83.352 metric tonne (MT) betel nut consignment worth ₹5.71 cr from Mundra port on Feb 6.

To evade their sky-high tariff rates of 110%, the smugglers mentioned the consignment as ‘base oil’ in the attached import documents.

After receiving a tip-off regarding a falsely labelled consignment at Mundra port, DRI officials from the Ahmedabad zonal unit investigated the containers.

In the investigation, it was revealed that the total consignment consisted of 738 drums, out of which 658 contained illegally smuggled betel nuts in split form.

The remaining 80 drums, which included oily substances or ‘base oil’,’ were used to conceal the smuggled items in the containers.

This massive consignment was confiscated under the Customs Act, 1962, along with 14.383 MT of ‘base oil’ worth ₹6.17 lakh.

Motive behind the smuggling 

The staggering tariff applied to betel nuts to safeguard the businesses of the local manufacturers.

To evade the radar of customs officials, the smugglers used this new modus operandi of packing split betel nuts into drums.

Reliable sources mention that the importers were reportedly summoned in this case.

A similar betel nut smuggling nexus was busted from Mundra port in Aug 2023, which included several high-profile individuals who are currently locked up in that case.

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