Vijayawada: Customs on Wednesday seized 333 bags of garlic suspected to be of Chinese origin, weighing 9,990 kg and valued at Rs 21.97 lakh.
The officials intercepted a truck near Nellore transporting the consignment from Jahanjharpur in Bihar to Koyembedu market in Chennai.
According to S Narasimha Reddy, commissioner, customs officers from Vijayawada Commissionerate, in collaboration with the customs preventive unit in Nellore, stopped a truck and inspected its contents. The garlic consignment was found to be in violation of the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, which prohibits the import of Chinese garlic to protect Indian agriculture from invasive pests and diseases.
The commissioner said: “The Ministry of Agriculture enforces stringent controls on plant imports to safeguard domestic crops. The prohibition on Chinese garlic stems from its susceptibility to Embellisia allii (Dry rot), a quarantine pest that can devastate garlic cultivation.”
Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Embellisia allii, a fungus known for causing permanent crop damage. Infected garlic scales, if discarded improperly or used as manure, can contaminate soil, making it unsuitable for future cultivation.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has ceased issuing import permits for Chinese garlic due to repeated detections of this fungus, which poses a significant threat to India’s agricultural ecosystem.
Agricultural experts have found Embellisia allii exceptionally difficult to eradicate, with its effects already documented in several countries.
The seizure marks a significant achievement for enforcement agencies, being the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh. Both the consignment and the vehicle have been detained, and further investigations are underway to uncover the networks behind the illegal import.
