VISAKHAPATNAM:
Customs officials have unearthed a racket in which the crew of a foreign
vessel was illegally selling marine fuel oil in bunkers to fishing and
trawling vessels and collecting amounts in foreign currency.
The Customs
House, Visakhapatnam, intercepted m.v. Crest Nautika and arrested its
Captain and Chief Engineer, both from Indonesia, under the provisions
of Customs Act, 1962 read with the Foreign Exchange Management Act,
1999 on Monday and sent them to judicial remand.
Sources
told The Hindu that there a syndicate which supplies foreign
currency to Indian fishermen for buying marine fuel oil from cargo vessels
transporting from HPCL Visakh Refinery for supply to drilling and seismic
survey vessels operating off the Kakinada coast. The foreign vessels
prefer only dollars so as to carry it home after signing off at Visakhapatnam
Port.
• Crew
illegally selling marine fuel oil in bunkers
• Officials seized foreign currency worth Rs. 50 lakh |
Following
specific intelligence, Customs officials seized US $ 1.16 lakh, Singapore
$ 15,482, Thai Baht 620 and Indian Rs.16,750, all valued at about Rs.
50 lakh. Joint Commissioner of Customs Shambhoo Nath said in a note
that during questioning, collection of foreign currency in exchange
of fuel to local vessels was confirmed by the crew. The fuel was earmarked
for delivery to m.v. Geco Searcher and consumption of m.v. Crest Nautika.
The officials
seized the foreign currencies and are conducting further inquiries to
identify others involved. They asked the agents of m.v. Crest Nautika
to inform the relatives of crew on the arrests. The Customs House urged
people to furnish information about the smuggling. either in person
or by contacting Shambhoo Nath, Joint Commissioner (2568883), Suja K.K.,
Assistant Commissioner (2526812) and Revenue Intelligence and Investigation
Unit (2562055). |