New Delhi, Sep 14: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully intercepted and seized over 362 metric tonnes of dry dates originating from Pakistan, which were being illegally imported into India by concealing their origin through transshipment. The operation targeted attempts to circumvent a nationwide prohibition on goods from Pakistan.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that DRI officers, acting on specific intelligence inputs, intercepted 13 containers laden with dry dates at CFS Ambad in Nashik, Maharashtra. The import documents declared the goods as originating from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), having arrived from Jebel Ali, UAE. However, a preliminary investigation by the DRI revealed a sophisticated scheme to disguise the true origin of the consignment.
Sources within the DRI indicated that the dry dates were initially shipped from Karachi Port in Pakistan to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE. Upon arrival at Jebel Ali, the cargo was transshipped, meaning it was transferred to a different set of containers and loaded onto a separate vessel bound for India. This operation was reportedly managed by entities associated with Pakistani nationals, aimed at obscuring the goods’ Pakistani provenance.
This seizure is part of a broader national security initiative following the Pahalgam terror attack. In response, the Government of India had imposed a complete prohibition on the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan. This prohibition, implemented via DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated May 2, 2025, aims to sever economic ties that could potentially fund illicit activities.
Under the DRI’s ongoing operation, codenamed ‘Operation Deep Manifest’, authorities have been actively working to identify, intercept, and seize goods of Pakistani origin that are attempted to be brought into India through third-country routes. This operation highlights the persistent efforts by the DRI to counter sophisticated trade manipulation tactics, including misdeclaration of goods, transshipment schemes, and documentation fraud, all of which pose a threat to national security and the integrity of supply chains.
The successful seizure in Nashik underscores the DRI’s commitment to upholding trade regulations and safeguarding national interests by dismantling networks that seek to circumvent import restrictions. The operation serves as a strong deterrent against such illicit trade practices and reinforces the resolve of Indian revenue intelligence agencies to maintain a secure and compliant trade environment.
The Chenab Times News Desk