The Mumbai unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a consignment of 3,646 latest models of iPhones suspected to be smuggled into the country from Hong Kong, at the Air Cargo Complex (ACC) at the International Airport in Mumbai.
The smuggled consignment includes 2,245 handsets of iPhone 13 Pro, 1,401 handsets of iPhone 13 Pro Max, 12 handsets of Google Pixel 6 Pro and an Apple Smart Watch, all worth Rs. 42.86 crores.
According to an official release, “The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) inspected two consignments on November 26. These consignments had arrived at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Air Cargo Complex (ACC) from Hong Kong. In the import documents, the consignment was identified as Memory card was declared as.”
In the import documents accompanying these two consignments, the goods were declared as “memory cards”. However, their physical examination on Friday revealed that the consignment actually contained 2,245 handsets of iPhone 13 Pro, 1,401 handsets of iPhone 13 Pro Max, 12 handsets of Google Pixel 6 Pro and an Apple Smart Watch. The smuggled goods were assessed collectively 42.86 crores. Mobile phones and Apple Smart Watches were not declared as imported goods under the Customs Act. The declared value of these goods was 80 lakhs.
iPhone 13 models went on sale in India from September 2021, with a base price of Rs. 70,000, and some higher-end models . cost up to 1,80,000. At present, the import of mobile phones into India attracts an effective customs duty of around 44%.
The detection of such a large number of attempts to smuggle these high-end phones of the latest models shows how quickly smugglers establish their smuggling networks for latest products like the iPhone 13, an official release said. stated in the release.
“This discovery has helped in the detection of a serious import fraud, which has had a huge impact on revenues,” it said.
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!
,