Customs Brokers Protest Holding Export Consignments Based on “Absurd” Risky Container Parameters

Ahmedabad: FCBA in India demands the criteria used to label consignments as “risky” or “suspicious” must be reviewed without delay as it leads to unnecessary export delays at ICD Khodiyar and upset customs brokers. FCBA India has written a letter to the CBIC Chairman, raising sharp questions about the actions of NCTC officials.  Several export containers are stuck at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Khodiyar, Ahmedabad. This is due to various “risky parameters” flagged by the National Customs Targeting Centre (NCTC) for exporters and customs brokers shipping goods abroad.

Taking strong objection to this, Parthiv V. Dave, founder member of the Federation of Customs Brokers Associations in India (FCBA India), has sent a stern representation letter to the Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in New Delhi.

The 4 Parameters Flagged by NCTC

NCTC halted shipments at ICD Khodiyar after marking four routine business aspects as “risky or suspicious”:

1. Destination Country: All exported goods were bound for Malaysia.

2. Common Customs Agent: Shipping bills for all four live consignments were filed through a single Customs House Agent (CHA).

3. Same Product Category: All exporting firms were shipping the same type of product (Textiles/Readymade Garments under HSN code 62041390).

4. Same Export Port: All shipments were dispatched from the same dry port (ICD Khodiyar).

Sharp Questions Raised by FCBA India

Opposing the order that labeled these export consignments as suspicious, FCBA India leader Parthiv Vijay Dave raised critical questions:

• Choice of Destination: “Do exporters now need to ask NCTC which country they should export to or from which foreign importer they should take orders?”

• Choice of Customs Broker: Selecting a Customs House Agent (CHA) to file export documents at any Indian airport or seaport is purely an exporter’s business choice, where Customs has no role to play.

• Routine Business Practice: It is completely natural for traders to use the relevant HSN code for their product and choose the nearest dry port (ICD Khodiyar) for shipping.

Protesting against NCTC’s approach, FCBA India sarcastically remarked that the NCTC officials setting these risk parameters seem so “intelligent and knowledgeable” that they apparently know best where traders should get orders, what business they should do, and which port they ought to use.

“Investigate After Export, Do Not Hold Goods First”

The representation cited a recent Standing Order (SOP) issued by Nhava Sheva Customs. As per Customs’ own norms, if there is any suspicion or alert, verification and recovery actions should ideally be conducted after the goods have been exported.

Holding shipments at the port inflicts heavy financial losses on traders. At a time when international trade and exporter survival are already challenged by global war situations, such administrative hurdles deal a severe blow to the country’s export trade.

FCBA India appealed to top authorities for an immediate review of the NCTC officials’ mindset and criteria. They urged that stuck consignments be released without delay to keep export processes smooth. Copies of this letter were also forwarded to the Ministry of Finance, Revenue Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, DRI (Delhi and Gujarat), and all Customs Commissionerates across India for necessary action.

Details of the Customs Department ‘Risky Exporter Alert’ Circular

• Alert Circular No.: 375-379 (Issued on September 28, 2026).

• Action Directed: Urgent physical action against risky/suspicious export cargo sent from ICD Sabarmati-Khodiyar.

• Affected Parties: 11 shipping bills belonging to 5 export firms were flagged as suspicious:

  • M/s Dhyey Enterprise (3 shipping bills)

  • M/s Jeeya International (2 shipping bills)

  • M/s Palxport (2 shipping bills)

  • M/s Shiv Export (2 shipping bills)

  • M/s Yashvi Export (2 shipping bills)

Reason for Risk Flagging: System algorithms detected commonalities across exporter profiles, registered addresses, product categories, or supplier data, tracking them as a potential “syndicate” formed for fraudulent Duty Drawback or IGST refund claims.

Consequences for Exporters:

• Refunds and Duty Drawback benefits are automatically blocked.

• Flagged containers undergo 100% physical examination at the port.

• If serious irregularities are found, the exporter’s Import Export Code (IEC Number) can be suspended or canceled by the concerned authorties.