Revenue Intelligence to monitor freight stations

KOCHI: Many of the privately owned Container Freight Stations (CFS), in Kochi, will be under strict vigilance following a seizure of an illegal shipment of red sandalwood from Vallarpadam ICTT to be shipped to Dubai. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) will be monitoring the CFSs.It has been confirmed by DRI officials that the container was reloaded with sandalwood from a godown in the city, not at the CFSs. Earlier, three other containers with sandalwood were shipped after getting nod from customs officials at the Asian Terminals in Wellington Island.DRI officials also said that there is a need to investigate whether any CFS or customs officials have been involved in such illegal activities.“Clear evidence is available with us that proves that the whole consignment was replaced with sandalwood. The entire door was removed so that the clearance seals would not be disturbed.  As a result, we have decided to monitor the activities of these CFS as these incidents seem to occuring on a regular basis at Vallarpadam ICTT. The customs department has also been directed to conduct stricter checks,” said a top DRI official.Customs Dy Commissioner Navas said that the Customs department has been very alert at the CFSs and container terminal and will intensify their efforts to counter illegal activities.“We are using the latest technology to monitor and check containers. As no checking is permitted inside the SEZ in Vallarpadam, goods can be tampered once in there. The vehicle with the Red sandalwood left the CFS at 3 pm on Wednesday, but reached the ICTT in the wee hours of Thursday. The container was reloaded with sandalwood from a godown in Wellington Island,” Navas said.In 2007, a consignment containing 817 boxes of air guns and pistols were seized from a container kept for clearance at a CFS of Asian Terminals at Wellington Island.Intelligence reports suggests that illegal activities have been rampant here and that the custom officials have been turning a blind-eye to it, the raid too was based on this intelligence.