Several firms across the state, including some from south Mumbai, are under the scanner of the Customs Department after a huge consignment of pure ethyl alcohol, which was misdeclared for laboratory use, was caught at Nhava Sheva Port in Uran a couple of weeks ago.
“Not only are they evading huge amounts of customs duties but also several other taxes levied by the state government. Many of the firms have been found to sell the stock to distilleries for making liquor or pharmaceutical companies, making substandard medicines,” Customs officials said on Monday.
Additionally, many of these companies have sister concerns that have been found to hold liquor licences, the officials said, adding that the effects of this ‘white collar smuggling’ can have a much bigger impact that goes beyond economics. Pure ethanol (ethyl alcohol) can be used to produce illicit alcohol by simply diluting it.
Read more at : Hindustan Times
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