The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Customs seize peacock feathers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Customs seize peacock feathers

P.Oppili

RARE CATCH: Customs Commissioner Subramaniam looking at the seized peacock feathers in Chennai on Monday. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: A consignment of peacock feathers weighing 310 kg, about to be exported to Malaysia as "bicycle components and spares," was seized by the Chennai Port Customs authorities from the Container Freight Station at Sathangadu near Tiruvottiyur on Saturday.

S. Subramaniam, Commissioner of Customs, Sea Port, said the officers noticed a consignment of 28 white polythene covered cartons meant for export to Malaysia, which landed in the Freight Station on last Thursday. It was sent by a person hailing from Alapakkam, Mr. Subramaniam said.

Suspecting foul play, officers at the Freight Station opened and examined the cartons in the presence of independent witnesses. To their shock, the exporter had packed feathers in all of the 28 boxes, instead of the "bicycle spares" mentioned in the shipping bill.

The seized feathers were valued at Rs. 7.75 lakhs at the rate of Rs. 2,500 per kg, Mr. Subramaniam said. Preliminary investigation by the Customs Docks Intelligence Unit revealed that the smugglers filed the documents in the name of a regular Chennai-based exporter without his knowledge.

Export of peacock tail feathers is prohibited under the Exim policy, and is also banned under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Mr. Subramaniam added. Maranko, Inspector, office of the Deputy Director of Wildlife, Southern Region, who inspected the consignment, said most of them were shed feathers and were not plucked from live birds. If they were plucked, there could be some bloodstain at the bottom portion of the feather, which was totally absent. He said that the feathers were mainly used for making dresses for use in cultural programmes.

Mr. Subramaniam said this was a major seizure of a wildlife product. A few months ago the Customs authorities at the airport seized peacock feathers weighing about 20 kg.

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