Hello Everyone,

I have ordered a toy drone to gift my relatives kid last year January and it was confiscated at Chennai Customs. Besides, I received a show cause notice after some months to submit license and documents which I don't have. Clearly I prepared a response letter and posted it to AIRPORT customs but never received any response from their end. Recently, I received a letter to appear in front of Customs officer with licenses and I don't have any documents. Also, I live outside India and could any advise me on this please.

I tried to ring them via the number mentioned on the letter but an officer lifted up my call and insisted me to send a DD of 5000 to postal appraising department. What should I do now ? Could any of you help me out with this please ? Thanks in advance.

hi,

Do not send any money in any way. Just write a letter to send it back to sender.

It will not be cleared as now the regulations are strict and getting paperwork is tedious process.

Simply write to the customs commissioner stating the parcel no and request to send it back to sender.
That way it will be returned back and mayb you can claim refund.

regds

In 2017, I had got a show cause for importing something, then I wrote them a letter. Explaining that I did not kno the rules, and it was a mistake and would not be repeated, and requested them to return to sender. They did return item back and I got back my money after a month, from Banggood.

I have sent many letters explaining everything to them that I bought it for entertainment purpose but I got response to my email posted below. Please give a read once and advise whether to take action or just ignore it. If I ignore what would be the future consequences ?


Please refer to the DGCA RPAS Guidance Manual for Import of Drones. Which also says that
1.  The importer or seller or Manufacturer of RPAs should obtain Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from WPC Wing.
2.  The applicant (other than Nano category should apply to DGCA for clearance through Digital Sky Platform.
3.  For all Categories of drones the importer should approach DGFT for import licence.
( Refer the DGCA RPAS Guidance manual - Page Number 6, Point No.2 (d). For Imported RPA)

CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS SECTION 3 – AIR TRANSPORT SERIES X PART I
ISSUE I, DATED 27 AUGUST, 2018
EFFECTIVE: 01st DECEMBER, 2018
F. No. 05-13/2014-AED Vol. IV

Subject: Requirements for Operation of Civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)
5.1 For RPA imported to India:
a) Any entity intending to import RPAS in India shall obtain Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from WPC Wing, Department of Telecommunication for operating in de-licensed frequency band(s). Such approval shall be valid for a particular make and model.
b) The applicant, other than Nano category, shall apply to DGCA for import clearance as per format given in Annexure-IA. Based upon the import clearance issued by DGCA, DGFT shall issue license for import of RPAS.
c) Upon receipt of import license, the applicant shall apply to DGCA for UIN/ UOAP, as applicable.

Import of Drone is restricted and the importer should submit the clearance from DGCA and produce the Import licence from DGFT.
If the required documents are not produced the item will not be delivered to the recipient and at the same time the item will be confiscated by customs.
After confiscation you will be served a Show Cause Notice followed by Personal Hearing letter asking you to appear in person before the competent authority. And after that finally you will be served an order asking you to pay the penalty of Rs.5000/- for having imported the restricted item.

You may send the Demand Draft drawn in favour of :

Commissioner of Customs - Air, Chennai,

Payable at Chennai




Readers, please share your views and advise what should I do on this .TIA

Hello,
We have received a similar notice recently, but we were not given any reason or package details, as far as we remember we didn't order anything from overseas, and they are not responding to the email or speed post we sent. Not picking up the phone listed in the notice either. Any idea how else to contact them?