Did customs officer Negi allow smuggled goods to pass through?

Mir Ranjan Negi was an observant hockey player in his time. But he wasn't so vigilant on January 17 when a smuggled consignment containing electronic gadgets, cigarettes and computer RAMs was not intercepted by him and other customs officials.

The Vigilance Wing of the Central Board of Excise and Customs has initiated an inquiry against Negi, a customs superintendent, Assistant Commissioner (customs) G B Agashi, S Kudalkar (PRO) and Abhay Choduhary (Air Intelligence Unit) and they have been temporarily transferred.

Senior customs officials confirmed the move and told MiD DAY that prima-facie the action against Negi and the others is for dereliction of duty.

Smuggled goods

That day, 35 people carrying the smuggled goods arrived from Dubai on Jet Airways (9W-543) and Cathay Pacific (CX-684) flights. Ideally, they should have been intercepted by the baggage section, of which Negi is in charge. But they were intercepted by the vigilance team while the bags were being screened in terminal 2A.

The raiding team decided to zero in on those carriers who were carrying goods over Rs 5 lakh, which attracts prosecution, while some who were carrying goods worth less than Rs 5 lakh paid the customs duty of 150 per cent and got the consignment cleared.

Spying gadgets

However, the matter turned grave when the raiding team discovered 25 abandoned bags without the luggage tags. And to their horror around seven bags contained electronic spying gadgets (see box). The vigilance team is now checking the disembarkation cards, which may lead them to the owner of the bags. The smuggled goods were worth around Rs 2 crore.

A senior officer probing the case said, "Such large scale smuggling is not possible without the connivance of custom officials at the airport." The officer said that most of the carriers were from Mumbai. Two of them have now been arrested.

Negi told MiD DAY that he did not want to comment. "The matter is being investigated by the vigilance department," he said. And Agashi added, "It is a routine administrative action."

Spy gadgets

The seized electronic spy gadgets include fountain pens with inbuilt video camera, Cloning accessories used for mobiles, gadgets used for recording.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/300109-Mumbai-Mir-Ranjan-Negi-hockey-player-vigilant-customs-officer-smuggled-consignment-airport.htm

Back, after 2 months of Somalian hell

25 Indian sailors who were aboard the hijacked MV Biscaglia came back home to hugs, kisses and flowers. Alisha Coelho shares their joy

"I thought I would never see them again." That's all Hanif Kapde managed to say when he saw his parents and wife at the Mumbai airport early this morning.

After two months of hell, the chief engineer and 28 other crewmembers of the MV Biscaglia who were caught by Somali pirates after the ship was hijacked off the Gulf of Aden on November 28, 2008, met their relieved family.

Hugs and kisses

There were hugs, kisses, puja thalis and flowers soon after they arrived from Muscat at 5.30 am.

"It feels like all of us here are one big family," said Saood Ullah Khan, brother of Sheroor Ullah Khan (47), who was the second officer. Sheroor, from Farokhabad in UP, is married with two children and they too have been constantly worried. "Every family here has gone through as much as anguish as us. It feels like we all are related through true pain and now with happiness for having them all back," said Saood.

Madan Fernendo (23) from Chennai was also waiting for his cousin Nazanin Fernendo (31) outside the airport.

Daily anguish

"His wife used to worry every day. Were they harassing him? Was he eating well? When she found out last week that they were going to be released, she could not speak for a few minutes. She could not be here today, so I am here with flowers," said Fernendo.

The hijack

MV Biscaglia, a Liberian flag vessel with 31 crew on board, was hijacked on November 28 by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Besides Indians, there were three Bangladeshis, two Britons and an Irish sailor on the vessel. The British and Irish sailors escaped after jumping into the sea and they were later rescued. The chemical tanker was carrying 16,282 tonnes of cargo and travelling between Indonesia and Europe. Biscaglia was the 97th vessel to be attacked in 2008 near the Somalian coast.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/300109-News-Mumbai-25-Indian-sailors-hijacked-MV-Biscaglia-Somali-pirates-Gulf-of-Aden.htm

Terror funds: NSE cautions members

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday issued a circular directing its Member to take note of the individuals and entities linked with the Taliban or Al-Qaida listed under the Consolidated List of the the United Nations. The list also includes the absconding Don of Mumbai Underworld Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar.

The prupose of the circulation issued by the committee to all its members is to freeze the funds and other financial assets or economic resources, including funds derived from property owned or controlled directly or indirectly, to prevent the entry into or the transit through their territories, to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms and related material, including military and paramilitary equipment, technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities, with regard to the individuals, groups, undertakings and entities placed on the Consolidated List.

The NSE has further advised its members, in case they come across any account, asset of designated entities, individuals mentioned in the Consolidated List is found, details of the same may be conveyed to the Exchange or to SEBI.

This list of the individuals or groups includes people and organisations associated with Taliban or Al'Quida. It is prepared by the Security Council Committee established under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations to combat international terrorism. The committee is also known as as "the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee".

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jan/300109-News-Mumbai-National-Stock-Exchange-Taliban-Al-Qaida-Consolidated-List-share-market.htm