Ahmedabad: almost a month after 2,998 kg of heroin worth around RS 20,000 Crore confiscated from two containers at the Port of Mundra, Port Adani and the Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) on Monday said it would not handle every cargo container from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran from November 15 and so on.
“With the effects of November 15, 2021, APSEZ will not handle the export and import cargo container from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said a trade advisor issued by APSEZ.
“Trade advisors will apply to all terminals operated by APSEZ and include third-party terminals in each Port APSEZ, until further notice,” Further Adani Group Company added.
Last month, the Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI) – Gandhidham had won two containers containing around 38 pockets that were wrongly expressed as ‘Semi-Processed Talih Stone’ from Afghanistan, who had arrived from Bandar Abbas port, Iran.
The two containers were allegedly carrying narcotics and therefore confiscated.
The case is registered by the Directorate of Intelligence Revenue (DRI) on September 13.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently took over investigations related to the seizure of narcotics from Mungra Port.
In addition to Mungra, other port terminals operated by APSEZ who handled cargo containerization including Port Hazira in Gujarat besides Krishnapatnam at Andhra Pradesh; Kattupalli and Ennore in Tamil Nadu; Dighi Port in Maharashtra and Vizhinjam in Kerala.
According to data by the Director General of Commercial and Statistical Intelligence, 24,483 tons of imports from Afghanistan and Iran were handled at the Port of Mundra from January to December 2020.
Items imported from Afghanistan including fresh fruits, spices, granite, natural stone products and Ayurvedic and herbs.
But the source said that imports from Afghanistan were almost stopped after taking over by the Taliban.
Similarly, imports from Pakistan are also dramatically reduced after a 200% task imposed by the Indian government, the Freight Forwarders said.
Import from Iran including peanuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, fruits and processed juices, cereal preparation, minerals and bulk ore, processed minerals, rubber products, inorganic chemicals, petroleum products, plastic raw materials, ceramics and products – Allied products, among others.
However, export trade (export-import) with Iran and Afghanistan continues.
“After such an announcement, most cargo can be handled from Port Kandla also that will not attract significant additional costs.
However, if the delivery is forwarded through another port, it can attract additional costs,” Mundra-based goods forwarder said, without being named.