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Ministry of Finance has sought assistance of forensic experts at major locations who are experts in handling explosives and radioactive materials. The customs officials have neither an expertise nor proper equipments in handling it. The Ministry feels that only compacted and shredded scraps under Para 2.32 {Sub-para 2.32(i)} should be allowed and uncompacted loose metallic scrap should not be allowed through any major port or ICD as it will not be possible for the customs officials to detect explosives in heavy consignments of metallic scrap.
Customs authorities are also being advised to call a meeting of importers of such scrap in the Ports/ICDs in their jurisdiction and to advise them to approach the jurisdictional police authorities to provide assistance of forensic experts and bomb disposal squads which can segregate the explosive materials from the normal cargo and defuse the same. The trade, however, will have to pay the normal fee for such assistance to police authorities.
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