Panvel Taluka Police are on the lookout for the accused who stole computer spare parts and other goods worth Rs 51.71 lakh from a customs-seized container at Apollo Logisolutions CFS warehouse in Somatane village, Panvel. The thieves gained entry by tampering with a vehicle pass and fled with the stolen goods.
The theft came to light on March 7 when an operator at the warehouse noticed that the customs seal of a container had been broken. “A review of CCTV footage revealed that the thieves used a truck belonging to Shripadam Logistics, a Belapur-based transport company, to gain access. The vehicle pass of Shripadam Logistics was tampered with, allowing the criminals to enter the premises undetected,” a police officer said.
The container in question originally belonged to a Surat-based company, which had imported computer spare parts, sewing machine components, and other goods via JNPT port in May 2023. However, the company failed to complete customs clearance, leading to the Customs Department seizing the goods and storing them at the Apollo Logisolutions CFS warehouse in Panvel. The consignment, valued at Rs 66.09 lakh, remained unclaimed for almost two years before thieves broke into it and stole goods worth Rs 51.71 lakh.
Following an inspection on March 18, the Customs Department filed a complaint. Based on this, the Panvel Taluka Police registered a case against three accused, and the search to find them is ongoing.