Masks, PPE kit heading abroad illegally seized by Customs at Delhi airport

The customs of New Delhi airport has stopped shipments of over 5 lakh masks and nearly 1000 bottles of sanitisers and PPE kits at its terminal that were being smuggled into countries including the China, US, UK and UAE.

More than a fortnight ago, almost eighty countries including India banned or limited the export of face masks, protective gear, gloves and other goods to mitigate shortages since the coronavirus outbreak began.

"On the basis of intelligence, Air Cargo, Delhi Customs intercepted multiple shipments containing 5.08 lakh masks, 57 litres of sanitiser in 950 bottles and 952 PPE kits at Courier Terminal, New Delhi which were attempted to be smuggled or exported out of the country.


These goods are prohibited for export as per Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) guidelines," said two officials aware of the development.

In addition, nearly 2480 kg of raw material for masks were wrongly declared as packing materials for pouch and were being illegally attempted to be smuggled to China.

The government in March, had banned the exports of all ventilators, surgical/disposable masks (2/3 ply) masks only and textile raw materials for masks and coveralls in certain tariff codes. In the April-January period, India exported coveralls worth $100 million, surgical apparatus worth $2.8 billion.