Fraud in importing race bikes detected

Chennai, May 31 (UNI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has detected a novel modus operandi to import high power race bikes, evading customs duty.

The DRI, Chennai, detected the case involving a Bangalore-based person, who indulged in customs duty evasion by importing high valued super bikes as spare parts through different ports, using the import export codes of different companies.

Import of such bikes involved customs duty of 120 per cent, whereas import of spare parts of motorcycles involved a customs duty of only 25 per cent, a release from DRI here said.

DRI had seized four such consignments of parts of Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda high power race bikes of 600 cc and 1,300 cc, which were imported through Tuticorin and Chennai ports and Chennai Air Cargo Complex.

Investigations revealed that in an arrangement with foreign suppliers, the high power race bikes were dismantled into parts and despatched in different consignments and imported through different ports and in the names of different importers, the release said.

The market value of the seizures worked out to more than Rs 25 lakhs, the release said.

UNI