DRI seizes banned walkie-talkies, HDDs worth ₹30 crore; two held

The seizure includes 11,060 walkie-talkies of the Baofeng BF-888S model, valued at ₹2.5 crore, and over 52,000 second-hand hard disk drives (HDDs) worth ₹7 crore. Officials said both categories are restricted for import under existing regulations

MUMBAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized a consignment of prohibited electronic goods worth approximately ₹30 crore and arrested two persons in connection with the case on Friday.

DRI seizes banned walkie-talkies, HDDs worth ₹30 crore; two held

The seizure includes 11,060 walkie-talkies of the Baofeng BF-888S model, valued at ₹2.5 crore, and over 52,000 second-hand hard disk drives (HDDs) worth ₹7 crore. Officials said both categories are restricted for import under existing regulations.

According to the DRI, the goods were imported from China and concealed within consignments misdeclared as miscellaneous electronic items, with the cover cargo valued at ₹21 crore.

The action followed specific intelligence inputs about a syndicate involving two firms operating from Lamington Road. The firms were allegedly managed by a son and controlled by his father, officials said.

Officials said the seized walkie-talkies operate in the 400–480 MHz frequency band, in violation of norms prescribed by the Department of Telecommunications, which permits licence-free use only within the 446.0–446.2 MHz band. The model has been blacklisted by authorities. The import of second-hand hard disk drives is also prohibited unless authorised by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, officials said.