AMSTERDAM: The Ahmedabad zonal unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) unearthed a multi-crore racket of illegal imports of clove oil by fraudulently declaring it as eugenol. The DRI sleuths have found that two importers based in Noida and Ghaziabad in UP had imported clove oil worth Rs 1.85 crore by claiming it as eugenol and had evaded customs duty worth Rs 1.8 crore.
“Through intelligence gathered by us, we found that some of the importers were importing clove oil by fraudulently declaring the same as eugenol. Based on the inputs, searches were conducted at the premises of Noida-based United Multichem Pvt Ltd (UMPL) and Ghaziabad-based Panch Mohan Chemicals Pvt Ltd (PMCPL) last week,” said a DRI official.
During the search, the officials detained available stock of clove oil weighing 17,775 kg valued at Rs 1.85 crore. Also, customs duty evasion of Rs 1.80 crore by both the importers was detected. “Some incriminating documents were recovered from their premises indicating that they were carrying the said practice of fraudulently declaring imported goods knowingly, with an intent to evade customs duty,” added the official. Following the search, the UMPL paid Rs 79 lakh upfront towards detected duty evasion. Further, another import consignment of the UMPL for import of eugenol valuing Rs 1.54 crore was detained at Internal Container Depot in Tughlaqabad in Delhi. Further inquiry in the matter is under progress. According to sources, the consignment was imported through various ports and later transported to godown of the companies.
