Customs recovers Rs 8 crore duty, seizes iron ore worth Rs 26 crore from Odisha exporter
BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate of customs (preventive) recovered over Rs 8 crore duty from a Keonjhar-based mines exporter and seized his company’s iron ore worth nearly Rs 27 crore. The iron ore was seized from a China-bound ship at Paradeep port in Jagatsinghpur district.
This was one of the biggest hauls by the customs (preventive) wing in Odisha in the recent past, sources said. Following an intelligence input about non-payment of customs duty during export, a team of officers headed by commissioner of customs (preventive), Bhubaneswar, Debasis Sahu conducted investigation at a number of premises of the exporters and custom house agents in the state.
“During investigation, we came to know about the non-payment of customs duty by M/s B S Minerals, Keonjhar on the iron ore fines. The company was about to export the goods to China from Paradeep Port in a vessel, MV Magnum Fortune,” a senior customs (preventive) officer said.
While the exact volume of the exporter’s duty arrear was being ascertained, officials said he deposited customs duty to the tune of nearly Rs 8.7 crore to the government following the raid. Later the officials seized 52.051 MT iron ore fines worth about Rs 26.92 crore from the China-bound vessel at Paradeep port. No arrest has so far been made in the alleged customs duty evasion case.
The exporter, who was unavailable for comment, submitted a bank guarantee of Rs one crore and a bond of Rs 5.4 crore for provisional release of the seized goods from the custody of the customs. “Our investigation into the case is in progress. The company’s officials would be summoned to face hearing at our office,” the customs officer said.