On January 23, the vessel from China was stopped by India’s customs officials at Navi Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva port on the suspicion that it contained a computer numerical control (CNC) machine. CNC machines are controlled by a computer and produce a scale of efficiency, consistency and accuracy not possible manually.
Acting on a specific lead, officials at Nhava Sheva stopped the consignment of Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd, the people said, adding that the consigner was mentioned as Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd while the consignee was Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd of Sialkot, said the people.
“The ship was requested to berth while the officials scrutinised the documents, which revealed that the consignment was meant for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan. The firm is a defence supplier for Pakistan which has been on the watchlist since March 12, 2022, when Indian authorities intercepted a shipment of Italian-made thermoelectric instruments, once again at the Nhava Sheva port,” said an official, who did not wish to be identified.
“The DRI will now investigate if the dual use consignment from the Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd meant for the Pakistan military defence and research and development unit Defence Science and Technology Organisation was shipped under false declaration to Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd, Sialkot,” said another official.
The customs department subsequently requested the Defence Research and Development Organisation to inspect the consignment. A team certified that it could be used by Pakistan for its nuclear programme.A senior customs official told ET that the ship was stopped as per the law as it had faulty paper work and the material was seized as per procedure.
It could not be confirmed, however, whether the if the ship and the equipment were released.
A senior defence official said the Indian Navy wasn’t involved in the incident.
India is among the 42 member countries that exchange information on transfer of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies.
North Korea used CNC machines in its nuclear programme, according to people in the know.
