₹1.5-crore worth Chinese crackers seized at Chennai Port, importer held

THE Chennai Seaport Customs on Monday seized ₹1.5-crore worth illegal Chinese firecrackers smuggled in from China in a container at the Chennai Port and arrested the Maharashtra-based importer, sources said.

- SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR

The cargo had been declared as artificial flowers. However, based on intelligence, Customs officials checked the container and found around 14,000 pieces of fireworks, sources said, adding that this was the first time the importer had made such an attempt.

Smuggling of Chinese firecrackers has been noted across ports on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, like Chennai and Thoothukudi, given their proximity to China. Customs authorities at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva Port too had seized crackers worth ₹11 crore in February.