Customs department seizes stock of smuggled rice worth Rs 4.50 crore

24-Jun-2024 11:54 AM

Kochi. The Customs department has seized containers of rice in Kochi which were being attempted to be smuggled.

Three containers full of smuggled rice have been seized and with this the number of containers seized during the last one month has increased to 13. The value of the total stock of rice seized so far is said to be around Rs 4.50 crore.

It is understood that some people are trying to smuggle rice on a large scale from Kerala and Chennai at or through the Vallarpadam container transshipment terminal. Preparations are also underway to send it abroad.

It is worth noting that at present only 'Atta' rice has been approved for export, on which 20 percent export duty is applicable.

The central government has banned the export of non-basmati rice of all other varieties and categories, with the aim of increasing the supply and availability of rice in the domestic sector and controlling prices. Experts say that if white rice produced in India is exported to markets like Dubai,

then exporters have the possibility of earning three times the profit. In view of this, some people have become active in smuggling rice through Indian ports.

According to the Customs Department, on June 21, three containers arrived from Chennai at Vallarpadam terminal on which 'salt' was written, but the department had already received information that rice was hidden under the sacks of salt in the containers.