42 smugglers caught, goods worth Rs 6 crore seized

42 smugglers caught, goods worth Rs 6 crore seized
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, APRIL 1: A new era of trade restrictions was lifted today with the promise of a free flow of foreign goodies, after import licensing on some 715-odd items was removed by the Government. But out on the high seas of the city, an old-fashioned drama, probably one of the last few of its kind, was being enacted. In a major combined operation, 42 smugglers were apprehended after a hot chase and a huge consignment of contraband worth more than Rs 6 crore was seized.

The police suspect that ganglords in Karachi and Dubai are using their networks to help international syndicates smuggle their goods through major ports in the country.

The consignment, on board the three vessels Al Mohyddin, Al Moinuddin and Faize Hussaini, meant to be sold in the grey market in Mumbai, was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard ship CGS Amritkaur.

Another offshore patrol vessel had also been tracking the vessels from Okha, a port in Gujarat.

The drama began unfolding when the Coast Guard swung into action after being tipped-off by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) that some Mumbai-based businessmen were on a shopping binge at Dubai in the third week of March. The goods were meant to be sold off to some shops at Manish Market and Heera Panna shopping centre near Haji Ali in south Mumbai, sources said.

Acting on the tip-off, air surveillance along the Gujarat coast was intensified and more than 20 aerial sorties were carried out from an air-station in Daman before the vessels were finally spotted on Saturday evening.

As the Dornier aircraft hovered over the 40-feet-long vessels, two ships under the command of deputy inspector general of Coast Guard, P. Paleri, were positioned off Mumbai to intercept the smugglers with the contraband. The dhows were finally escorted to Hay Bunder, a harbour near Sewri, under tight security this morning.

Investigations have revealed that the contraband was loaded onto the three vessels around March 22 and the voyage originated from Dubai two days later. The high-speed mechanised dhows were to leave part of the consignment at Okha before they changed course and headed for Mumbai

The consignment was packed in corrugated boxes and concealed in special holds in the ships. The modus operandi was to unload the contraband onto small boats, allowing them to slip past customs officials in the harbour, officials said.

Among the confiscated items were mobile phones, cloth, cassette recorders, video and audio cassettes, perfumes and cartons of cigarettes. Edible items like chocolates, cheese and dates were also stashed away among the goods.

A senior official disclosed that the vessels were registered at Salaya, a port in the Gulf of Kutch. The identity of the kingpin is still being ascertained.

It seems that the smugglers were in a haste to beat the quota curbs after import licensing was removed from many items. Sources in intelligence agencies revealed that many clandestinely-run business houses in Dubai have links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Large consignments, some reportedly headed for Karachi in Pakistan, are being exported from the Gulf on the behest of the gangster and his henchmen.