Mumbai Port Bust: DRI Seizes 800 Tonnes of Pakistani Cosmetics and Dry Dates Worth Rs 12 Crore
Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva Port turned into a hotspot for a major smuggling crackdown recently. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai team seized 28 containers packed with 800 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin cosmetics and dry dates, all valued at a whopping Rs 12 crore. This bold move came as part of their ongoing fight against illegal imports.
The bust happened under Operation Deep Manifest, which DRI kicked off after the Indian government slapped a total ban on Pakistani goods—direct or indirect—starting May 2, 2025. The ban followed the shocking Pahalgam terror attack, and officials say it’s all about protecting India’s borders and economy.
Here’s how the smugglers tried to pull it off: Three Indian importers brought in these banned items by routing them through Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, UAE. They cleverly misdeclared the goods as coming from the UAE to hide their real Pakistani roots. But DRI’s sharp investigations uncovered the truth, exposing the sneaky scheme.
In the dry dates case, things got even more dramatic. DRI arrested a Dubai-based supplier—an Indian national—who helped ship the dates from Pakistan using fake invoices. He ran his firm on a commission basis, weaving a tangled web of deals with Pakistani, Indian, and UAE players to blur the trail. Even the money flow went from India to Pakistan through him, making it a full-blown smuggling network.
For the cosmetics smuggling, DRI nabbed one customs broker who faked the country of origin on documents to sneak them past checks.
This isn’t the first win for Operation Deep Manifest. Back in July, DRI seized 39 containers with 1,115 metric tonnes of similar goods worth Rs 9 crore and arrested the main importer. Yet, some rogue traders still try to dodge the rules by tweaking shipping papers and lying about origins.
DRI officials warn that these illegal imports, backed by Pakistani links in Dubai and beyond, threaten India’s national security big time. In today’s tense global scene, they’re doubling down on intelligence, quick raids, and teaming up with other agencies to guard trade routes.
Operation Deep Manifest shows DRI’s no-nonsense approach to enforcing bans, customs laws, and keeping India’s economic security rock-solid. By blocking these sneaky imports of Pakistani goods, they’re ensuring trade stays fair and safe for everyone.
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