Chinese apple sellers are raking in a moolah with the Indian variety yet to hit the market.

However, experts doubt the health benefits of these apples. “The nutrients and minerals in the Chinese apples are insufficient for humans. The chemicals used to preserve the Chinese apples are harmful to the body, especially the liver,” said East Champaran chief medical officer P. Ojha.

There is a huge demand for the Chinese fruit owing to its large size and bright colour. The Indian ones are generally green and pink. Once the indigenous apples hit the market from July, the demand for the Chinese fruit is expected to die down. The Indian apples cost around Rs 60 per kg.

The Chinese apples, priced at Rs 100 per kg, are smuggled from countries like Nepal to the bordering areas of the state. The Sashastra Seema Bal inspector posted at Pantoka border outpost, Swaraj Kamal, said: “Around 1,000 cartons of Chinese apples are brought into East Champaran everyday.” Kamal added: “On June 6, we seized around 2 quintals of Chinese apples at the border outpost.”

Several carriers, mainly women, smuggle these products via trains like Satyagraha Express, Mithila Express and Sadbhavana Express plying between Raxaul and Old Delhi and Howrah and store them at different places before distributing to various states in the country, said a railway employee.

Station house officer of Raxaul government railway police K.K. Bharti, who has been transferred to the district recently, said: “I have come to know about the inflow of the Chinese apples in this area. I would ban the entry of such products on the railway premises.”