New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has uncovered an alleged international smuggling network that imported 7,311 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin industrial and Himalayan rock salt into India by disguising its origin through third countries.
Under Operation Deep Manifest, the agency detected 295 containers carrying the salt, with an estimated market value of ₹30 crore. The consignments were routed through Colombo port in Sri Lanka, allegedly using fabricated certificates of origin and invoices issued by UAE-based entities to circumvent India’s ban on Pakistani goods.
Acting on intelligence inputs, the DRI conducted a fortnight-long operation between September 26 and October 11, 2026, searching linked premises in Gandhidham, Adipur, Veraval, Panipat, Pune, Patiala, Delhi and Mumbai.
The investigation revealed that nine importers had brought in the 295 containers through Mundra and Kandla ports since March 2026.
Five containers carrying 140 metric tonnes of rock salt, valued at ₹24.41 lakh, were seized at Kandla port. The agency also seized ₹20.96 lakh in sales proceeds held in importers’ bank accounts.
According to the DRI, preliminary findings point to a transnational network involving entities owned by Pakistani, UAE, Sri Lankan and Indian nationals. Documents relating to the Pakistan-Sri Lanka leg of the shipments reportedly identified Pakistan as the country of origin and India as the final destination, while certificates of origin submitted by importers were found to be fabricated.
Four people have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962. They include two proprietors or partners of importing firms, a customs broker’s G-card holder and the owner of a Dubai-based supplier who had also established and operated an importing firm in his father’s name.
The crackdown follows a similar operation last month in which the DRI seized more than 362 tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates packed in 13 containers at a container freight station in Ambad, Nashik.
India prohibited the direct or indirect import or transit of goods originating in or exported from Pakistan through a Directorate General of Foreign Trade notification dated May 2, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The DRI said it would continue efforts to dismantle networks allegedly using third-country routing, false declarations and fabricated trade documents to evade the prohibition.
