Indian customs seize Chinese walnuts falsely declared as Afghan

Indian authorities at Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva Port detained 46 containers after discovering walnuts imported from China were falsely declared as Afghan produce. The ship departed Bandar Abbas Port and has been held for more than two weeks.

A circular from the Customs Intelligence Unit states one person has been arrested, with estimated tax-evasion losses of 50 crore rupees, approximately $5.4 million. No importer has claimed the shipments.

Indian trade sources indicate misdeclaring walnuts from the United States and Chile as Afghan goods is a longstanding practice to exploit SAFTA’s zero-duty benefits, as India imposes 100% duty on walnut imports to protect growers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said traders forged transit documents in India’s E-Sanchit/ICES system to fabricate an Afghan route, though packaging retained Chinese markings.