DRI Seizes Over 362 Metric Tonnes of Pakistan-Origin Dry Dates Routed Through UAE
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized over 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates disguised as UAE imports via a third-country routing scheme, violating India's post-Pahalgam import ban under Operation Deep Manifest. Preliminary inquiries uncovered an orchestrated transhipment scheme aimed at masking the origin of the goods.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates in a major enforcement operation targeting illegal import routing. Acting on intelligence inputs, DRI personnel intercepted 13 containers imported by a Mumbai-based firm at Container Freight Station (CFS) Ambad in Nashik. The shipments had entered India from Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, with accompanying trade documents listing the UAE as the country of origin.
Transhipment and Misdeclaration Scheme
Preliminary inquiries uncovered an orchestrated transhipment scheme aimed at masking the origin of the goods. The dry dates were initially dispatched from Karachi Port in Pakistan to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE using a designated set of containers on one vessel, reports PIB. Ajit Doval and Randhir Jaiswal Seen Eating Dry Fruits at BRICS Summit; Viral Videos Divide Netizens.
At the UAE port, the cargo was transferred into a second set of containers and loaded onto an alternative vessel destined for India, managed through entities operated by Pakistani nationals.
'Operation Deep Manifest'
In a significant crackdown on attempts to circumvent India’s prohibition on imports from Pakistan, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India enacted a complete prohibition on the direct or indirect import, transit, or export of all goods originating from Pakistan, effective May 2, 2025, under DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26.
Under the codename "Operation Deep Manifest", the DRI maintains targeted surveillance to detect and intercept unauthorised merchandise routed through third-party countries. This interception highlights ongoing enforcement efforts to dismantle illicit trade networks relying on documentation manipulation and transhipment, reinforcing national security and supply chain compliance.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2026 04:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
