New Delhi, September 14: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates in Nashik after uncovering an alleged attempt to bypass India’s ban on imports from Pakistan through the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials intercepted 13 containers of dry dates imported by a Mumbai-based firm at the Container Freight Station (CFS) in Ambad, Nashik.
The consignments had arrived from Jebel Ali port in the UAE, with import documents declaring the UAE as the country of origin.
However, a preliminary investigation revealed that the goods had originally been shipped from Karachi port in Pakistan to Jebel Ali, where they were transferred into another set of containers and loaded onto a different vessel for onward transportation to India.
The investigation also indicated that entities operated by Pakistani nationals were involved in the transshipment arrangement, allegedly intended to conceal the actual origin of the goods.
India imposed a complete prohibition on the direct or indirect import or transit of goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with effect from May 2, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The prohibition was notified through Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Notification No. 06/2025-26.
The DRI has been carrying out enforcement action under “Operation Deep Manifest” to identify and seize Pakistan-origin goods allegedly routed into India through third countries.
The agency said the latest seizure highlighted its efforts to dismantle networks attempting to circumvent trade restrictions through misdeclaration, transshipment and manipulation of import documents.
The action, it said, was aimed at safeguarding national security and maintaining the integrity of supply chains.
