(a) whether the Government are aware that the cardamom from Guatemala is being smuggled into India through Nepal and Calcutta Airport;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of cases booked during each of the last three years, till date;
(d) the number of persons arrested in this connection;
(e) the action taken against them; and
(f) the steps taken by the Government to check the smuggling?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI. S. S. PALANIMANICKAM )
(a),(b),(c),(d)&(e): Sir, the Customs field
formations including the Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence have effected seizures of cardamom
while being smuggled from Nepal. These cardamom
might be of Guatemala origin or of Malaysian or
Indonesian origin imported into Nepal under CTD
(Customs Transit Document) procedure or diverted
into India enroute to Nepal. The details of seizure
of cardamom during last three years are as under:-
Year No.of Qty Value No.of Action cases in kgs Rs.in persons taken booked Lakhs arrested
2002-2003 116 2616.50 1.51 - - 2003-2004 248 9589.00 5.42 2 Prosecution launched 2004-2005 182 11513.50 15.64 6 Prosecution launched 2005-2006 5 323.00 0.01 - -