New Delhi: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has issued a warning to all investigating and intelligence agencies that a huge quantity of hazardous Chinese firecrackers has started reaching india illegally ahead of Diwali.
“The import of firecracjers is ‘Restricted’ in terms of the ‘Foreign Trade Policy’ and is allowed only against an import license by the Director-General of Foreign Trade. It has been observed that in order to circumvent the licensing requirements, unscrupulous importers are indulging in the illegal import of firecrackers by any misdeclaration and concealment,” an offcial letter from DRI read.
“In this regard, several alerts have been issued by this office in the past. Seizure of juggled firecrackers by Customs enforcement wings bear testimony to the unabated attempts of entities to clandestinely import of firecrackers by way of misdeclaration and concealment. This is a serious matter and a grave cause of concern,” DRI’s letter added.
The Chinese crackers contain banned chemicals like red lead, copper oxide and lithium among others due to which they are against the Explosive Rules, 2008.
The Chinese dealers are trying to achieve their annual financial targets by aiming at the Indian markets.