Imported e-waste seized by customs officials

CHENNAI: More than 120 tonnes of e-waste imported from various countries by different companies in violation of Customs Act and hazardous waste management rules have been seized at the port.

The e-waste shipped here in eight containers were seized by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials.

Of the total five consignments, one was from Australia, one from Canada, two from Korea and one from Brunei, a DRI release said.

The subsequent examination of the goods revealed that all the computer monitors, CPUs, processors were very old, used and appeared to be in unusable condition.

A large proportion of the computer monitors were found to be more than ten years old and clearly meant for recycling.

In one of the consignment imported from Brunei by a company it was found to contain 166 used old computer monitors, 89 control panels, electrical motor parts, printers and keyboards.

Cases have been registered against the importers for violations of provisions of the Customs Act 1962 read with hazardous waste (management, handling and transboundary movement) rules 2008.

These goods need to be re-exported back to the country of origin after due process of adjudication.