DRI seizes 364 tonnes of Dry Dates at Kandla, Pak Origin Claimed but Dates are Grown Only in Mid East

Ø DRI intercepts 13 containers carrying dry dates imported at Kandla Port with misdeclaration of origin from UAE, but consignment was Pakistan origin

Ø India has prohibited imports of mechandise originating from Pakistan

· Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 364 metric tonnes (MT) of Pakistan-origin dry dates worth approximately ₹3 crore at Kandla Port.

· The consignment comprised 13 containers that were declared as originating from the UAE, but investigations established that the goods were actually of Pakistan origin.

· The dry dates were transported from Pakistan to Dubai, shifted into different containers, and then exported to India to conceal their true origin.

· Importers allegedly misdeclared the country of origin and suppressed material facts to circumvent India's ban on imports from Pakistan.

· The entire consignment was seized under the Customs Act, 1962.

· The action follows another recent DRI case involving the seizure of 14 MT of Pakistan-origin Guggul resin worth around ₹1.4 crore at Tuticorin Port.

· In the Guggul resin case:

o The goods were falsely declared as natural resin originating from Somalia and routed through Dubai.

o Investigations confirmed the consignment was Pakistan-origin Guggul resin, trans-shipped using forged documentation.

o Two persons were arrested for their involvement in the conspiracy.

· Guggul resin (Commiphora resin) is listed under CITES Appendix II and classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

· Under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023, as amended by DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated 02.05.2025, the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan is prohibited with effect from 2 May 2025.

· DRI stated that these operations underscore its continued efforts to detect, disrupt and dismantle organised smuggling networks, customs fraud, and illicit transnational trade.

[ABS News Service/05.08.2026]

In a significant crackdown on attempts to circumvent India’s prohibition on imports originating from Pakistan, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has unearthed a case involving the clandestine routing and mis-declaration of Pakistan-origin goods through third countries. The operations resulted in the seizure of 364 MT of Pakistan-origin dry dates valued at Rs. 3 crore.

In an intelligence led operation, officers of DRI intercepted 13 containers carrying 364 MT of dry dates, valued at approximately Rs. 3 crore, imported at Kandla Port. Investigation revealed that the goods, though declared as originating from the UAE, were in fact of Pakistan origin.

The enquiries established that the goods were first transported from Pakistan to Dubai and subsequently shifted to another set of containers before being exported to India. The importers allegedly suppressed material facts and mis-declared the country of origin in an attempt to evade the prohibition on import of Pakistan-origin goods. Accordingly, the entire consignment has been seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Last week, the officers of DRI had uncovered an attempt to import around 14 MTs of Pakistan-origin Guggul resin valued at Rs. 1.4 crore approx. through misdeclaration of description and country of origin at Tuticorin port. The consignment, had been falsely declared as natural resin originating from Somalia and routed through Dubai.

Guggul resin (Commiphora resin), a species endemic to the arid regions of India and Pakistan is listed in CITES Appendix II and is categorised as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red list. Investigation established that the consignment was Guggul resin and was of Pakistan origin and had been trans-shipped using forged documentation. Two persons involved in the conspiracy were also arrested.

As per the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, amended vide DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated 02.05.2025, the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan stands prohibited with effect from 02.05.2025. The imports in both cases were found to be in contravention of the said prohibition.

These successful operations highlight DRI’s continued efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle organized networks engaged in smuggling, Customs frauds and other forms of illicit transnational trade.