Key Points
A recent large haul of smuggled Chinese garlic in India has prompted authorities to step up vigilance at the land customs posts...
Customs authorities have deployed sniffer dogs and alerted its local intelligence at wholesale distributors and warehouses to prevent smuggling via bordering Nepal and Bangladesh, said people aware of the matter...
"There has been a spike in such instances, especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and the Northeast, where garlic is transported via Nepal," a customs official told ET on condition of anonymity...
Last month, customs authorities caught a shipment of 64,000 kg Chinese garlic worth 1.35 crore at Sikta land customs post...
According to the Spices Board, India exported 56,823 tonnes of garlic valued at 277 crore in the April-September period in this financial year..
