India has heightened security measures following the detection of a substantial quantity of smuggled Chinese garlic. Customs officials have escalated surveillance efforts at land customs stations, incorporating sniffer dogs and coordinating with local intelligence to thwart smuggling activities through adjacent nations such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
A customs representative pointed to an uptick in smuggling incidents, notably in regions like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and the Northeast, where illicit entry of garlic from Nepal is prevalent. Since 2014, India has enforced a prohibition on Chinese garlic imports due to concerns over fungus contamination. An ET report also highlighted worries regarding elevated pesticide levels in the contraband garlic.
Recent enforcement actions led to the confiscation of a large 64,000 kg garlic consignment at the Sikta land customs station. The increased smuggling activity is linked to a surge in domestic market prices and a significant uptick in exports. Market analysts estimate that 1,000-1,200 tonnes of Chinese garlic are currently stocked within India, with prices having almost doubled since November.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com