Guwahati, Oct 26: In a massive drive to destroy contraband items, the Guwahati Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Customs Zone on Thursday destroyed ganja and cigarettes of foreign origin worth Rs 44 crore as part of a special campaign of the department of administrative reforms and public grievances.
According to official sources, 9077.24 kilograms of ganja valued at Rs 14.44 crore and 1.51 crore cigarette sticks of foreign origin, worth Rs 29.66 crore, which were seized under Customs Act, 1962, were destroyed by Guwahati CGST and Customs Zone, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) as a part of Special Campaign 3.0 of the department of administrative reforms and public grievances.
“The destruction is being undertaken by the CBIC under the Special Campaign 3.0 in an effort to ensure efficient management and disposal of seized goods with a view towards enhancing public welfare and the nation’s well-being. The destruction also ensures cleanliness and freeing up of office spaces which are the main drivers of Special Campaign 3.0,” an official statement said.
The drugs destruction drive was carried out by Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, chairman CBIC where Bandhana Deori, chief commissioner, CGST and customs, Guwahati zone; G M Kamei, additional director general, directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI); Mahfuzur Rahman, CCP NER, Shillong; Rajeev Yadav, principal additional director general, directorate general of human resources development, and Debasish Dey, regional officer, State Pollution Control Board, were also present.
Notably, Guwahati Customs had in the previous financial year (2022-23), carried out destruction of 7472.4 kilograms of ganja, valued at Rs 7.72 crore, and 1.78 crore cigarettes of foreign origin, valued at Rs 30.23 crore, along with other customs-seized goods such as black pepper, dried dates and anti-mosquito coils.