The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates at Container Freight Station (CFS) Ambad in Nashik, in what the Ministry of Finance described on 14 September 2026 as a major crackdown on attempts to circumvent India's import prohibition on Pakistani goods through third-country routing. The consignments, carried in 13 containers, were imported by a Mumbai-based firm and had arrived from Jebel Ali, UAE, with import documents falsely declaring the UAE as the country of origin.

How the Transshipment Was Allegedly Arranged

According to the DRI's preliminary investigation, the dry dates were initially shipped from Karachi Port in Pakistan to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE aboard one vessel and in one set of containers. At Jebel Ali, the goods were allegedly transferred into a different set of containers and loaded onto a separate vessel bound for India — a classic transshipment manoeuvre designed to mask the cargo's true origin.

The onward shipment was reportedly facilitated through entities operated by Pakistani nationals, according to the DRI's findings. The agency described the arrangement as an allegedly orchestrated scheme involving misdeclaration, transshipment, and manipulation of import documentation.

The Legal Backdrop: Post-Pahalgam Import Ban

The seizure comes against the backdrop of the government's decision to prohibit the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, a measure introduced following the Pahalgam terror attack. The prohibition took effect on 2 May 2025 through DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26, and explicitly covers goods routed indirectly through third countries — closing the very loophole that the alleged transshipment network sought to exploit.

The restriction was framed in the interest of national security and extends to transit goods as well, making any attempt to disguise Pakistani-origin cargo through intermediate ports a direct violation.

Operation Deep Manifest: DRI's Enforcement Drive

The latest bust is part of Operation Deep Manifest, the DRI's ongoing initiative to identify and intercept Pakistan-origin goods allegedly being routed through third countries to evade import restrictions. The operation has been focused on scrutinising shipping manifests, container-level documentation, and supply-chain trails to detect misdeclaration at the point of entry.

Notably, this seizure underscores the scale at which such circumvention is allegedly being attempted — 362 metric tonnes of dry dates across 13 containers represents a significant commercial consignment, not an incidental or small-scale violation.

What the DRI Said

The DRI stated that its enforcement action is aimed at safeguarding national security while strengthening the integrity and transparency of India's supply chains. The agency has not yet disclosed whether any arrests have been made or whether formal charges have been filed against the Mumbai-based importer or the overseas entities allegedly involved in the scheme.

As investigation into the alleged network continues, the case is likely to set a benchmark for how India enforces its post-Pahalgam trade restrictions against increasingly sophisticated transshipment attempts.