Customs writes to Adani Ports SEZ on banning exim cargo from Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan SECTIONS.

Indian customs has written to the Adani Ports SEZ Ltd questioning its move to ban both import cargo from Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan and exports to these countries through its port in Mundra.

In a letter, the customs has communicated that the company needed an authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Exim policy to take such a decision, a senior official told ET.

The letter was sent 10 days ago after on October 11 the port decided to ban exim cargo to and from these countries. "Ports are not authorised to take such unilateral decisions," another official, privy to the matter, said.

Such decisions can be authorised only by the DGFT, the official said, adding that a port cannot selectively impose such a ban.

The company did not respond to queries sent by ET till the time of going to the press.

Industry bodies had also taken up the issue with the government. They had flagged the rise in shipment costs for local exporters and importers based in Gujarat that relied on the Mundra port.

The company had imposed the ban after a 3,000 kg heroin shipment originating from Afghanistan was seized by enforcement authorities.