The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized antiques worth crores of rupees from a shipping container at the Container Freight Station (CFS) in Mundra, said the agency on Monday. The container had originated from the UAE. The market value of the seized items, including antique idols and pictures, is estimated at Rs 26.80 crore.
According to a press release by the DRI, based on privately received information, the agency identified a container that was imported from Jebel Ali, UAE, at Mundra’s CFS. The container was categorized as “unaccompanied baggage for personal effects” and underwent a detailed inspection before customs. During the investigation, the container was found to contain old idols, vintage utensils, paintings, antique furniture, and other valuable heritage items. Some of these articles date back to the 19th century, and some are made of precious stones, gold, silver, or gold-silver coating.
One of the artworks, ‘The Harem Guard,’ created by Georges de Geetere in Belgium, dates back to 1885. Its approximate value is estimated to be in the range of $20,000 to $30,000.
Most of the seized items originate from European countries, particularly the UK and the Netherlands. The consignment value was understated to evade customs duties. There is a significant demand for such items in the illegal market, prompting further investigation by the relevant authorities.