Racket looting export goods from trucks busted

Tirupur: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs’ decision to conduct 100% examination of goods at ports has come as a blessing in disguise for some exporters in the city
The decision has led to uncovering a racket of looting small quantity of export goods from trucks on the way to Thoothukudi port from the city and Bengaluru.
A truck driver involved in the racket was arrested in Thoothukudi on Tuesday by the Thoothukudi district police. Police are on the lookout for another truck driver as well.
Recently, customs officials at the port found out that quantity of goods sent by three exporters were not tallying with bills. Investigations revealed that the quantity of goods became lesser than the actual due to thefts carried out with the help of drivers of trucks.
“We understood that a gang led by Mathivanan has been targeting ‘third parties’ trucks. The gang has connived with truck drivers by promising money. Once the trucks reach Pandalkudi in Virudhunagar district- bordering district of Thoothukudi, they would take the trucks to a private place where lesser quantity of packed garments would be stolen,” said an apparel exporter on condition of anonymity.
“They would open the carton boxes and steal four-five pieces in a box and repack them. The gang not only targeted export goods from Tirupur but also from cities like Bengaluru. The gang had ‘bribed’ Rs 5000 to truck drivers if the goods were coming from Tirupur, and Rs 10,000 to the drivers who take the goods from Bengaluru since they would be value-added goods,” president of Tirupur Exporters’ Association Raja M Shanmugham said.
This racket was going on for months and the stolen goods were sold in cities like Chennai. The Thoothukudi police booked two truck drivers who were found to have connived with the gang. While one of them was arrested, the other is still at large.
“The loot would not only bring disrepute to the exporters but also to the whole country because if the billed quantities were not found in the consignments, the buyers would put debit as well as stop giving future orders too. The exporters would also have to face legal consequences from the customs department,” Shanmugham said.
TEA has advised the exporters to hold the transport agencies responsible for safety transportation of the goods till the port, and they were asked to send the goods in vehicles which have facilities like GPS.