DRI seizes over 362 tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates in Nashik

Mumbai, Sept 14 (TNT): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates in Nashik for allegedly attempting to circumvent India’s prohibition on imports from Pakistan.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted 13 containers of dry dates imported by a Mumbai-based firm at the Container Freight Station (CFS), Ambad, Nashik.

The consignments had arrived from Jebel Ali in the UAE, with import documents declaring the UAE as the country of origin, the Agency said in a release on Monday.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the consignments were allegedly routed through the UAE in an attempt to conceal their Pakistan origin.

The dry dates were initially shipped from Karachi Port in Pakistan to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE in one set of containers aboard a vessel.

At Jebel Ali, the goods were transshipped into another set of containers and loaded onto a different vessel for onward shipment to India through entities operated by Pakistani nationals, the DRI said.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India imposed a complete prohibition, in the interest of national security, on the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with effect from May 2, 2025, through DGFT Notification.

The DRI has been identifying, intercepting and seizing Pakistan-origin goods allegedly being brought into India through third-country routes under “Operation Deep Manifest”.

The latest seizure highlights the agency’s efforts to detect and disrupt networks allegedly attempting to circumvent trade prohibitions through misdeclaration, transshipment and manipulation of import documentation, the DRI added.

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