Customs Commissioner D D Ingty told on Wednesday that the containers, which were transported to the Container Freight Station at Pettah about two weeks ago, were found to contain municipal waste of about 60 tonnes.

“We cannot allow our country to be used as a dumping ground for the municipal waste of other countries,” Mr Ingty said.

The consignment, imported from New York by Kochin Kadalas, a paper factory in Ambalamugal near here, was supposed to consist of waste paper only, which is not prohibited by the law.

No case has been registered.

While the  import of municipal waste, garbage and certain grades of oil were banned and the party importing such materials could be proceeded against under the Customs Act.

“However, no case had been registered. Further action would be decided only after the detailed examination was over and it would take some time as the waste was hydraulically pressed down,” the Customs Commissioner said.

Last year, about 15 containers of waste were seized and sent back from Cochin port.