Surveillance on Chinese consignments bolstered at Chennai port and air cargo complex

The Customs department has strengthened its vigilance on Chinese consignments that arrived at both Chennai port and the Chennai air cargo complex based on suspicions, said sources.

It is learnt that similar checks were held at the Mumbai, Kolkata and Thoothukudi ports. This comes just after last week’s India-China face-off at Ladakh.

“It is a regular investigation based on suspicion. We cannot give further information. We cannot stop any cargo,” clarified a senior official of Chennai Customs when asked if Chinese consignments are not being cleared. “In fact, we are clearing them but the cargo is not evacuated from the port and airport due to the lockdown,” he added.

An official of the shipping trade said that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs had communicated to the Customs department to hold Chinese consignments despite obtaining ‘out of charge’ orders. This information was communicated orally to the trade last night.

At the air cargo complex today afternoon, Chinese consignments were examined but released later by the Customs.

While there is no official data, nearly 30 per cent of cargo, mainly medical and electronic items, handled at Chennai originates from China.

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