The Mumbai Unit of the Tax Intelligence Directorate (DRI) dismantled an Apple iPhone smuggling racket and seized more than 3,600 handsets from the recently launched iPhone 13 series. The items were imported as “memory chips” to evade tariffs, the federal agency said.

The total value of the seized goods is approximately Rs. 42.86 crore, while the declared value of the goods was only Rs. 80 lakhs.

DRI is India’s supreme anti-smuggling intelligence, investigation and operations agency.

“After developing precise information, DRI agents inspected two shipments on Friday. These shipments had arrived from Hong Kong at the Air Cargo Complex (ACC) at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. In the import documents, the goods were declared as “memory cards”. The physical examination, however, revealed that the shipments actually contained a total of 3,646 iPhone-13 cell phones, ”the agency said in its statement.

In addition to iPhones, 12 Google Pixel 6 pro 12 handsets and an Apple Smart Watch have also been apprehended.

The iPhone 13 models went on sale in India from September, with a base price of Rs. 70,000 and some of the higher end models costing up to Rs. 1,80,000. Importing phones laptops in India results in effective tariffs of around 44%.

“The detection of attempted smuggling of these high-end phones of the latest models in such large numbers shows how quickly smugglers are establishing their smuggling networks for the latest products, such as the iPhone 13,” the statement added.

“The electronics industry has been chosen as the focus area for the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. There has been a sustained policy to increase domestic cell phone manufacturing. As part of this, the share of iPhones made in India increased to 75% in 2021, compared to 5% in 2017. iPhones have a market share of around 15% in India, well below levels in the United States and of the EU. The increase in local production can be attributed to the initiatives of the Indian government * ‘Make in India’ * and * ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ *, “said an official focusing on the case.

“The attempt to smuggle high-value electronic items into the country, especially in such large volumes, is not only in violation of customs laws and the resulting tax evasion, but also has the potential to have an impact on the growth of the domestic industry, which has been severely affected. affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has just started his recovery. The iPhone 13 was launched only 2 months ago and its smuggling in such a huge volume shows how quickly smugglers take advantage of every opportunity, ”explained the official.