Date:10/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/10/stories/2008081051060300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Customs Department warning to oil traders

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: The Customs Department has warned unauthorised oil merchants who are indulging in illegal business of procuring oil from foreign vessels through fishermen of stern action.

It stated in a press release that some merchants were financing the procurement of oil from foreign vessels and selling it other traders.

The fishermen buy oil from foreign vessels at the deep water and anchorage ports and help their financiers in making a profit with the contraband. The merchants were advised to desist from carrying on this smuggling activity in defiance of the relevant provisions in the Customs Act, 1962.

Cases booked

Four such cases were booked in the recent past at Kakinada. Diesel oil / furnace oil and fibre boats worth some Rs. 20 lakhs were seized and customs duties amounting to Rs. 7 lakhs collected. Henceforth, the offenders would be arrested and penal proceedings initiated against them. Steamer agents were also warned of stringent action of they facilitated such illegal activities from the vessels being handled by them.