The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has taken major action against an international racket attempting to circumvent India’s ban on imports from Pakistan. The operation seized 364 metric tons of dried dates worth approximately ₹3 crore (approximately $30 million USD). While these dates were purportedly imported from Pakistan, investigations revealed they were imported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using forged documents.
Based on a tip-off, the DRI conducted an investigation at Kandla Port in Gujarat. This time, 13 containers of dried dates were seized. Initially, it was claimed that the goods came from the UAE. However, the investigation revealed that the actual source of the dates was Pakistan. According to the investigation, the goods in question were initially shipped from Pakistan to Dubai. There, the containers were altered or repackaged to make them appear to be exported from the UAE. Subsequently, the goods were shipped to India. It is suspected that the country of origin of the goods was deliberately concealed to evade the import ban imposed on Pakistan. The entire consignment has been seized under the Customs Act, 1962.
A few days ago, the DRI seized 14 metric tons of guggul resin worth approximately ₹14 crore in another operation at the Tuticorin port. It was claimed that the resin was imported from Somalia. However, investigation revealed that it had been brought to India from Pakistan via Dubai. Guggul resin is considered a rare and protected plant product. It is listed on CITES Appendix 2 and is listed as a “critically endangered” species on the IUCN Red List. Two suspects have been arrested in this smuggling case.
Under the central government’s revised Foreign Trade Policy-2023, the direct or indirect import of any goods manufactured in or exported from Pakistan has been banned from April 2, 2025. The DRI investigation found both consignments seized to be in violation of these rules.