Archive · 5 Aug 2026
DRI Seizes Pakistan-Origin Dry Dates Worth Rs 3 Crore
India has a rule that stops goods made in Pakistan from coming into the country.
Some people tried to break that rule by sneaking in dry dates that really came from Pakistan.
The dates weighed about 364 tonnes and were worth around 3 crore rupees.
To hide the truth, the people said the dates came from the UAE, but the dates were first sent from Pakistan to Dubai.
In Dubai, the dates were moved into new containers before being sent to an Indian port called Kandla.
Customs officer detectives called the DRI checked the shipment and found out the truth.
They took away the entire consignment because importing it broke the law.
Last week, the same officers found another sneaky shipment of a special tree resin called Guggul from Pakistan, worth about 1.4 crore rupees.
That resin was falsely labelled as coming from Somalia, and two people were arrested.
The rule banning Pakistani goods has been in place since May 2, 2025, so these secret shipments are illegal.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 364 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates valued at about Rs 3 crore at Kandla Port.
The 13-container consignment was declared as originating from the UAE but was actually of Pakistan origin, having been routed via Dubai.
The entire consignment was seized under the Customs Act, 1962 after importers allegedly suppressed material facts and misdeclared the country of origin.
The action enforces India's prohibition on the direct or indirect import of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, effective since May 2, 2025.
Last week, DRI also seized about 14 MT of Pakistan-origin Guggul resin worth about Rs 1.4 crore at Tuticorin port, with two persons arrested.
- Who
- Officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), India's apex anti-smuggling investigation agency; two persons were arrested in the related Guggul resin case.
- What
- Seized 364 MT of Pakistan-origin dry dates worth about Rs 3 crore that were misdeclared as UAE-origin and imported in 13 containers at Kandla Port.
- When
- Announced by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday; the related Guggul resin seizure occurred last week; the Pakistan import ban has been in effect since May 2, 2025.
- Where
- Kandla Port, India; the related seizure of about 14 MT of Guggul resin occurred at Tuticorin port, with goods routed through Dubai.
- Why
- The importers allegedly suppressed material facts and misdeclared the country of origin to evade India's prohibition on imports originating from Pakistan.
- Operating agency
- Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
- Seized goods
- 364 MT Pakistan-origin dry dates
- Estimated value
- Rs 3 crore
- Containers intercepted
- 13
- Seizure location
- Kandla Port
- Declared vs actual origin
- Declared UAE; actual Pakistan (routed via Dubai)
- Legal basis
- Customs Act, 1962; Foreign Trade Policy 2023 as amended by DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated 02.05.2025
- Related seizure
- ~14 MT Pakistan-origin Guggul resin worth Rs 1.4 crore at Tuticorin port; two arrested; resin is CITES Appendix II-listed and IUCN-listed as Critically Endangered
