After the scam of smuggling betel nut under the pretext of Mundra Port Salt some time ago, the betel nut case has once again come into the limelight. Now, betel nut smuggling from Dubai under the guise of plastic grains has been caught. The SIIB (Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch) Wing of the Customs, Mundra has seized 53 tons of betel nut worth Rs 3 crore. Based on the information, the team stopped and inspected two containers. The Customs received information that betel nut was being imported from Dubai under the guise of plastic grains at Mundra Port. Following which, a watch was set up and two big containers were inspected and betel nut worth Rs 3 crore was found in them. The Customs branch of Mundra Customs, Principal Commissioner K. Engineer, conducted an investigation. It was found that two containers of betel nut were going to a unit of Kandla Special Economic Zone and they contained PVC resin, i.e. plastic grains. The team investigated and found 53 tons of betel nut. The market value of which is approximately Rs 3 crore. Earlier, the betel nut scandal was in the news. Then, once again, the mafia behind the betel nut scandal was caught and it is being discussed that the betel nut mafia has become active. Betel nut, which is available in the Indian market for around 450 kg, is sold much cheaper in other countries. There is little consumption of betel nut in countries like Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The duty rate of betel nut changes every month. If betel nut is traded legally, the traders have to pay more. That is why a scam is committed by importing betel nut from other countries and evading duty and selling it in the local market. Betel nut is smuggled into India from Mundra port via Dubai via various countries.
Betel nut case was caught four years ago in Kutch:
It is worth mentioning that, four years ago, the first betel nut case was caught in Kutch and the involvement of some police personnel came into the limelight. After four police personnel were suspended in the betel nut case worth four crores, the investigation is still in the air. Amidst the discussion of the involvement of a gang including a close relative of a former IPS officer and a political leader, the four-year-old and forgotten betel nut case is once again becoming the center of discussion due to this incident.
