CHENNAI: Poppy seeds sourced from Pakistan and Afghanistan are being smuggled into India from south-east Asian countries through air passengers and cargo, Customs had flagged up in a recent alert to its teams across the country, sources said.
This comes at least four months after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had alerted its field units about poppy seed smuggling through Indian sea ports, including Chennai and Thoothukudi.
In January, a group representing legal exporters of poppy seeds from the European Union had complained to the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) about poppy seeds from Afghanistan and Pakistan, intentionally mis-declared as that of Turkish origin, being smuggled into Malaysia and then routed to India.
They had even provided details of the Afghani exporter and corresponding Malaysian importer with some videos of the handling of the consignment in Kuala Lumpur (capital of Malaysia). The complaint had raised the bogey of “funding of terrorist organisations” through this smuggling. Customs and DRI officials had then told TNIE that they were keeping vigil, but the particular complaint did not have any actionable evidence.
According to sources, the recent alert had highlighted two separate modi operandi: firstly, air passengers coming from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Myanmar and even Sri Lanka and Turkey would carry at least 10 kg of poppy seeds concealed in their baggage.
And secondly, the smuggled poppy seed is concealed in air cargoes which are declared as grocery shipments, food products and spices, sources said, quoting the alert. Customs formations (teams at different ports –air/sea) across the country, especially in Tamil Nadu which has good air connectivity with south-east Asian countries, have been asked to take note of these for preventive measures.
Poppy seeds can be legally imported only from 16 countries with a Customs duty of 25%. Every importer has to register with the CBN and provide a certificate to show that the imported poppy is grown legally. And that’s the reason for its smuggling, say industry sources. Poppy seeds cost around Rs 1,200-1,500 per kg in India.
India has stopped the legal import of poppy seeds for more than two years to protect the interest of domestic poppy cultivators which is also a factor for their smuggling, say official sources.
Seeds in the sky
Smuggling route has shifted from seaports to air
Air passengers carrying up to 10 kg of poppy seeds in baggage
Seeds concealed in grocery and food shipments via air cargo