Directorate of Revenue Intelligence(DRI) Bangalore unit is after a Kochi-based exporting company suspected to have been facilitating red sanders smuggling racket. The DRI has been tracking down Rajernath R alias Rajeed proprietor of R Nath Exports based in Kochi and export licence of which was used by rackets for smuggling red sanders from different ports in the country.
According to DRI officials, the involvement of the accused first came to light after they seized a consignment of 240 logs of red sanders from Mangalore port in September 2013. Later, during the investigation, it was found that the consignment was to be sent to Dubai using the licence of a Kochi based company-R Nath Exports-owned by Rajeed. “Later, during the raids, more logs of red sanders weighing 5810 kg worth Rs 58.10 lakhs were seized from Papinassery in Kannur. In total red sanders worth more than Rs 2 crore were to be smuggled from Mangalore port,” the DRI official said.
The DRI officials said that the key accused in the case is Musthafa Abdul Rahman an NRI business-man hailing from Malappuram and Abdul Kalam alias Azad who is also accused in Nedumbassery Airport fake Indian currency note case investigated by National Investigation Agency (NIA). When Musthafa Abdul Rahman arrived from Malayasia in July 2012, Abdul Kalam with his friends met Musthafa Rahman. They decided to carry out red sander smuggling as it earns good profit. Even though Mushtafa Abdul Rahman operated his own exporting company ‘Fathima Exports’ having Export (IEC) licence, they did smuggling with the assistance of export licence of Rajeed. As per the agreement, IEC code of R Nath Exports was purchased for Rs 50,000. They planned to carry out smuggling twice a month for which a dividend was to be given to Rajeed.
After being intercepted by DRI, Musthafa Abdul Rahman and Abdul Kalam was arrested. However, Abdul Kalam was released on bail and went absconding. DRI had imposed Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act. But Rajeed is still at large and the DRI is still in search for the accused.