Tamil Nadu: Inspection

The arrest of a key accused in the infamous red sandalwood smuggling, Anil, this week in Coimbatore has sparked off a different row. He was held by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The officials seized 10 tons of red sandalwood along with coconuts and salt for camouflaging the contraband from a Coimbatore warehouse. Importantly, they also laid their hands on documents which establishes the money transaction chain.

According to officials, Anil had been convicted twice in the past, on both occasions by DRI officials. Officials have already recalled two containers which had been sent to Dubai a couple of weeks back.

This has sparked off an unholy row between officials of he the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the Customs authorities.

The customs department has already shot a letter to the Cochin Port Trust and DP World, the company-in-charge of Vallarpadam International Transhipment Container Terminal, stating that if they are not permitted to inspect the goods they would withdraw their officials. The DP World has replied that since the Vallarpadam Terminal comes under SEZ, it is the duty of the SEZ development commissioner to take a decision on the issue of customs inspection. Vallarpadam is the first SEZ in the country which operates the port-oriented business. Since the development commissioner is away, the commissioner of the SEZ in Vishakhapatnam is in-charge of Kochi.

It is alleged that he is not willing to `interfere’ in the matter. Compounding the problem, the Port Trust Chairman is away. By all reckoning, a case which calls for central intervention.