DRI Seizes 364 MT Of Pakistan-Origin Dry Dates Worth ₹3 Crore At Kandla, Finds Alleged UAE Routing

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 364 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates worth around ₹3 crore at Kandla Port after uncovering an alleged attempt to bypass India's ban on imports from Pakistan by routing the consignment through the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The seizure followed an intelligence-led operation in which DRI officers intercepted 13 containers. While the import documents declared the dry dates as originating in the UAE, investigators found that the consignment had allegedly originated in Pakistan.

Dry Dates Routed Through Dubai

According to the DRI, the dry dates were first transported from Pakistan to Dubai before being transferred into a different set of containers for shipment to India.
Investigators allege that the importers deliberately concealed the actual country of origin and falsely declared the goods as UAE-origin in an attempt to circumvent India's prohibition on Pakistan-origin merchandise.
The entire consignment has been seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is underway to identify those allegedly involved in the suspected import fraud.

DRI Detected Pakistan-Origin Guggul Resin Shipment

The latest seizure comes about a week after the DRI detected another alleged attempt to import around 14 MT of Pakistan-origin guggul resin worth approximately ₹1.4 crore through Tuticorin Port.
In that case, the consignment was allegedly misdeclared as natural resin originating from Somalia and routed through Dubai.
The DRI investigation found that the shipment contained guggul resin, or Commiphora resin, a species native to the arid regions of India and Pakistan.
The species is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Officials said the consignment had allegedly been trans-shipped using forged documents, leading to the arrest of two persons suspected of being involved in the operation.

Pakistan Import Ban Came Into Effect In 2025

The enforcement action follows an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, through Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated May 2, 2025.
Under the notification, the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan has been prohibited with effect from May 2, 2025.
Officials said both the dry dates and guggul resin consignments were found to be in violation of the import prohibition.

Probe Into Alleged Smuggling Network Continues

The DRI said the operations highlight its efforts to detect and dismantle organised networks allegedly involved in customs fraud, smuggling and other forms of illicit transnational trade.
Investigators are continuing to examine the Kandla shipment and trace the parties involved in the alleged attempt to conceal the actual origin of the goods.