Saffron worth Rs. 12,45,000 seized by DRI in Bajpe Airport from a Dubai-Mangalore Passenger.

Saffron worth Rs. 12,45,000 seized by DRI in Bajpe Airport from a Dubai-Mangalore Passenger.

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 26, 2012: On the basis of specific intelligence, officers of Mangalore DRI intercepted a passenger named Shri Abdul Saram, aged 33 years, holder of Indian Passport No. F-8076126 at Bajpe International Airport, Mangalore on May 25, 2012 when he arrived from Dubai by Air India Express Flight No. IX 384 at about 1430 hrs. 12,450 grams of saffron worth about Rs. 12,45,000/-  at the rate of Rs. 1 lakh per kg, was seized from him.

Abdul Saram, S/o Shri Andumai Mangool. Aged 33 years, Avikkara House, Kanhangad, Kasaragod District, Kerala

 

 

 

 

The accused had passed immigration clearance, collected his checked in baggage from the conveyor belt and opted to come out through Customs Green Channel, i.e. the Channel used for passengers without any dutiable items and proceeded towards the exit point of the arrival hall of the Airport.  At this juncture the officers of DRI intercepted the accused and taken him for questioning.

The said accused, Abdul Saram had three pieces of baggage and one plastic carry bag with him.  One baggage was a blue coloured ‘NANTAI’ brand suitcase. The other two pieces of baggage were card board carton boxes.  The plastic carry bag found with him did not have any Tag.

The accused was then asked as to whether any dutiable goods were available in his baggages and if so, whether he had declared the same to Customs and paid any customs duty. To this query, he replied in the negative and answered that he had no dutiable goods. Thereafter all the three baggage were opened and examined in detail. 

The examination of the card board carton boxes revealed the concealment of packets of ‘Navid Saffron Khorsan Razavi Co. Behrang Saffron Net Weight 25 gr Type of Saffron filaments (poshali) grade (1) Product of Iran Add. No.2/480 – Second floor of bazaar reza – Mashhad-IRAN’.

On detailed verification, totally 498 packets each weighing 25 gms (Net weight) of Iranian Saffron of brand “BEHRANG SAFFRON” were found in the aforesaid two card board carton boxes.  Accordingly, the total weight of these 498 packets of saffron was found to be 12,450 grams(498 x 25). 

Upon enquiry with the accused as to why such huge quantity of saffron was brought undeclared to Customs and without payment of duty, he informed that he chose to bring the said saffron in his accompanied baggage by way of concealment for the lure of money. He could not produce any valid document for the licit possession of the same. The total value of the said 12,450 grams of saffron is about Rs. 12,45,000/-  at the rate of Rs. 1 lakh per kg, in accordance with the present market.. Thereafter, the said 12,450 grams of saffron was seized for the reason that they were smuggled into India without payment of duty in contravention of the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 for further action according to law as they are liable to confiscation along with the packets/ tins and the two card board carton boxes used for concealment. The seized items were packed in the said two card board carton boxes and these two carton boxes were sealed. The remaining items were returned to the accused, as they were neither dutiable, nor contraband.

The accused was produced before the Principal Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mangalore and he is remanded for 14 days Judicial Custody.  Ms. Asha Nayak, Special Public Prosecutor appeared for DRI.