In a major enforcement breakthrough, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 39 containers carrying 1,115 metric tonnes of goods valued at approximately ₹9 crore. The goods, of Pakistani origin, were illicitly routed through third countries—primarily via Dubai, UAE—in a blatant violation of India’s import policies. The operation, codenamed “Operation Deep Manifest”, has led to the arrest of a partner from one of the importing firms on June 26.
This high-stakes operation comes in the wake of the Government of India’s comprehensive ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of Pakistani-origin goods, following the Pahalgam terror attacks. The ban, effective from May 2, 2025, replaced the earlier imposition of 200% customs duties on such imports, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to economic engagements with Pakistan.
Despite the strict ban, some importers attempted to circumvent the policy by misdeclaring the origin of Pakistani goods and manipulating shipping documents. The DRI uncovered such attempts in two separate cases at the Nhava Sheva port, where consignments of dry dates were falsely declared as originating from the UAE. Detailed investigations revealed that these goods had been shipped from Karachi, Pakistan, and merely transshipped through Dubai before being re-routed to India.
Further scrutiny of shipping documents and cargo movement showed a calculated effort to obscure the true origin of the goods. Containers and vessels were switched during transshipment at Dubai’s Jabel Ali port. Financial investigations also uncovered money trails linked to Pakistani entities, raising concerns over illicit financial flows and highlighting a sophisticated network involving Pakistani and UAE nationals.
The seizures are part of a broader strategy by the DRI, which has heightened its vigilance in the wake of Operation Sindoor and ongoing regional security threats. Through enhanced intelligence gathering and the use of data analytics, DRI has been systematically targeting consignments suspected to have Pakistani links.
