Import Process With A Big Hole
Imagine 100 containers in the middle of Mumbai. Loaded with deadly explosives. The remote trigger is in the hands of a terrorist. One click & boom! I am not talking about a Bollywood movie or sensationalising triviality. I am talking about real life situation in our industry.
A whole lot of goods are purchased by Indian entities from overseas. Millions of containers are entering as imports in a year. 'A' sells (Overseas Seller)- 'B' buys (Indian buyer)- 'C' carries (Shipping Line) – 'D' handles the imports(Agent) – 'E' declares the goods to Customs (Sub-agent or Surveyor) – 'F' moves the cargo on land (Bonded Transporter) – 'G' stores (CFS, ICD, Port) the goods in containers for delivery to 'B'. Interestingly & dangerously, 'B' is a silent sleeper until he wakes up to claim his cargo after paying the duty. He could sleep for months to years to even infinity. 'E' on behalf of 'D' declares the details of the incoming goods and identity of 'B' etc . You call it IGM. 'C' has no knowledge about the identity of 'B' – except as declared by 'A'. 'C' has extremely limited control on what 'A' puts inside his box, in a foreign land with alien laws & practices. 'B' could be a fiction or could choose to be a fiction at the time & place of his choice. Our Customs Laws are ruthlessly merciless towards 'D' for any slight. 'D' has to declare the IGM 48 Hrs (On behalf of 'C') before vessel arrival, while 'B' could be sleeping in Honolulu. Be it missing a 'comma' in the IGM or a thermonuclear bomb as cargo – 'D' shall be pulverised to shreds by the Indian Authorities.
The solution needs no rocket science. It needs plain common sense. 'B' must have a face and 'B' must declare what he is bringing, before the goods land in India. Until 'B' has a face and he is made to own up his goods before they arrive on our shores, we are just sitting ducks, praying to God almighty that this never happens.
A whole lot of goods are purchased by Indian entities from overseas. Millions of containers are entering as imports in a year. 'A' sells (Overseas Seller)- 'B' buys (Indian buyer)- 'C' carries (Shipping Line) – 'D' handles the imports(Agent) – 'E' declares the goods to Customs (Sub-agent or Surveyor) – 'F' moves the cargo on land (Bonded Transporter) – 'G' stores (CFS, ICD, Port) the goods in containers for delivery to 'B'. Interestingly & dangerously, 'B' is a silent sleeper until he wakes up to claim his cargo after paying the duty. He could sleep for months to years to even infinity. 'E' on behalf of 'D' declares the details of the incoming goods and identity of 'B' etc . You call it IGM. 'C' has no knowledge about the identity of 'B' – except as declared by 'A'. 'C' has extremely limited control on what 'A' puts inside his box, in a foreign land with alien laws & practices. 'B' could be a fiction or could choose to be a fiction at the time & place of his choice. Our Customs Laws are ruthlessly merciless towards 'D' for any slight. 'D' has to declare the IGM 48 Hrs (On behalf of 'C') before vessel arrival, while 'B' could be sleeping in Honolulu. Be it missing a 'comma' in the IGM or a thermonuclear bomb as cargo – 'D' shall be pulverised to shreds by the Indian Authorities.
The solution needs no rocket science. It needs plain common sense. 'B' must have a face and 'B' must declare what he is bringing, before the goods land in India. Until 'B' has a face and he is made to own up his goods before they arrive on our shores, we are just sitting ducks, praying to God almighty that this never happens.
Brgds
(Capt Rath) Skype Gtalk MSN : psrath
Econship
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