Earlier this year, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in India seized two containers that were labelled as scrap, but had hidden MFPs at the back of the container.
The Times of India reported in April of the seizure of two containers by the Ludhiana-based zonal unit of the DRI, which not only had sports shoes and “other wrongly-declared” goods, but also had MFPs hidden behind a separation wall.
The initial investigation estimates 150 MFPs from various OEMs were inside the two containers. The value of the seized goods is estimated to be around Rs 1 crore ($134,628.16/ €114,535.71) and might be higher if there are further items found. The Times of India reports that the containers were imported at the end of December 2020 and were labelled as scrap.
Once the investigation has been concluded the importer will be summoned by the DRI.
Our take on this: Indian Import duties and Integrated Goods & Services Tax for used printers can be as high as 37.5%. Labelling items as “scrap” can attract Indian Import duties and Integrated Goods & Services Tax rates of around 23%. An under declaration of $18,847 (€16,025) on the $134,628.16 (€114,535.71) consignment.
