Containers of huge scams

KOCHI: A day after the NCRB came out with statistics naming Kochi, the metro with the highest crime rate in the country, yet another major scam has come out. With the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seizing red sandalwood worth Rs 1crore form ICTT at Vallarpadom, India’s only container transshipment terminal at Kochi has come under the scanner once again.It is not the first time that the container terminal is coming under the scanner. Earlier the officials had zeroed in on an attempt to import armaments to the country through the Kochi port. Though the authorities, including the city police, the DRI and the Enforcement officials started tracking the source of the armaments, the probe reached nowhere.Also there were reports of containers with counterfeit currencies reaching the city through the port. Another major scandal surrounding the city was the import of fake video CDs.Interestingly a thorough probe by the officials including the Military Intelligence pointed fingers at links across the border in the fake CD racket. There are reports that huge quantities of black money are being pumped into the city through various hawala rackets.