22 March,2026 12:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The officials said that 11,060 prohibited walkie-talkie sets and second-hand hard disk drives were seized during an operation. Representational Pic/File
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized walkie-talkie sets and second-hand hard disk drives (HDDs) collectively valued at Rs 9.25 crore at Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai, officials said, reported the PTI.
They said that 11,060 prohibited walkie-talkie sets and second-hand hard disk drives were seized during an operation.
The owners of two Mumbai-based firms involved in the imports - a father and son - have been arrested under the Customs Act for bringing in the goods without the required permissions.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials recovered Baofeng BF-888S walkie-talkies worth Rs 2.50 crore and second-hand HDDs valued at Rs 6.75 crore, according to the PTI.
The prohibited items were hidden among miscellaneous electronic goods worth Rs 21 crore.
Officials said that the full consignment, valued at Rs 30.25 crore and shipped from China in eight containers, was seized due to misdeclaration, as per the PTI.
The walkie-talkies have been blacklisted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as they operate beyond permitted frequencies and can be used for unauthorised communication, posing potential national security risks, the news agency reported.
Such devices require specific licences for import and use.
Second-hand HDDs are classified as e-waste and cannot be imported without prior approval from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), officials added, the news agency reported.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police has seized a large quantity of counterfeit mobile accessories in Ghatkopar, officials said.
According to the police, during a raid, authorities seized fake products worth approximately Rs 16.33 lakh and filed cases against six shopkeepers allegedly involved in the operation.
The crackdown followed intelligence reports that several shops in Ghatkopar East were selling fake Apple accessories as original items. Police teams focused on the Patel Chowk and Niloyog Mall areas, where these products were reportedly being sold openly.
To ensure swift action, police formed six separate teams and conducted simultaneous raids across different locations. This prevented the accused from escaping and allowed authorities to recover a large quantity of counterfeit goods.
The seized items included mobile chargers, adapters, USB cables, mobile covers, back panels, earphones, Air-Pods, and batteries. Officials noted that the products closely resembled genuine Apple accessories, making it difficult for customers to distinguish between real and fake items.
The six accused have been booked under Sections 51 and 63 of the Copyright Act. The seized goods have been sealed and sent for further examination, while police continue to investigate and track other individuals linked to the racket.
Officials emphasised that similar drives against counterfeit products will continue across Mumbai to protect consumers and curb the illegal sale of fake branded goods.
(With PTI and IANS Inputs)
