After Mundra drug haul, Adanis ban Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran cargo

AHMEDABAD: Nearly a month after 2,998 kg of heroin valued at about Rs 20,000 crore was seized from two containers at Mundra port in Gujarat, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) on Monday said it will not handle any container cargo originating from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran from November 15.A trade advisory was issued on this on Monday. “The trade advisory will apply to all terminals operated by APSEZ and including third party terminals at any APSEZ port, till further notice,” the Adani Group company added. Last month, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Gandhidham, had seized two containers with 38 bags that were misdeclared as ‘semi-processed talc stones’ originating from Afghanistan, which had arrived from Bandar Abbas Port, Iran. The two containers were suspected to be carrying narcotics and were seized. A case was registered by DRI on September 13. The NIA recently took over the investigation of the case relating to the seizure of narcotics from Mundra Port.Besides Mundra, other port terminals operated by APSEZ which handle container cargo include Hazira port in Gujarat in addition to Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh; Kattupalli and Ennore in Tamil Nadu; Dighi Port in Maharashtra and Vizhinjam in Kerala. According to data by the Director General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, 24,483 tonne of imports from Afghanistan and Iran were handled at the Mundra Port from January to December 2020.Sources said that imports from Afghanistan have nearly stopped after its takeover by the Taliban. Similarly, imports from Pakistan too have reduced dramatically after a 200% duty was imposed by the Indian government, said freight forwarders.