The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a transnational smuggling racket involving more than 73 lakh kg of Pakistan-origin rock salt worth approximately Rs 30 crore, which was illegally brought into India through Sri Lanka using forged certificates of origin and fabricated trade documents. Four people have been arrested in connection with the operation, the Union Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.
The crackdown, conducted under the codename 'Operation Deep Manifest', uncovered the import of 295 containers carrying 7,311 metric tonnes of industrial and Himalayan rock salt through Gujarat's Mundra and Kandla ports since March 2026. Investigators found that the consignments were routed through Colombo port in Sri Lanka, while invoices issued by entities based in the United Arab Emirates were allegedly used to conceal the goods' Pakistani origin.
The imports violated India's prohibition on the direct and indirect import or transit of goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, imposed in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack. The DRI said the investigation had exposed an organised network involving entities linked to Pakistan, the UAE, Sri Lanka and India.
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐-๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ป
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials launched a coordinated operation between September 26 and October 11, conducting searches at premises associated with the suspected smuggling network across eight locations.
The searches covered Gandhidham, Adipur and Veraval in Gujarat, Panipat in Haryana, Pune in Maharashtra, Patiala in Punjab, Delhi and Mumbai.
Investigators discovered that nine importers had collectively brought 295 containers of Pakistan-origin rock salt into India through Mundra and Kandla ports since March this year.
Of the total consignments identified, five containers carrying 140 metric tonnes of industrial and Himalayan rock salt, valued at Rs 24.41 lakh, were seized at Kandla port.
The agency also seized sales proceeds amounting to Rs 20.96 lakh from bank accounts belonging to the importing firms.
The larger quantity of 7,311 metric tonnes represents the total imports detected during the investigation, rather than the quantity physically seized.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ต๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ป
The investigation revealed that the suspected smugglers allegedly used a complex arrangement involving third-country routing, fabricated certificates of origin and misleading invoices to circumvent India's import restrictions.
According to the Finance Ministry, the consignments originated in Pakistan and were transported to Sri Lanka before being shipped to Indian ports. Dubai-based entities allegedly supplied invoices intended to create the impression that the goods originated outside Pakistan.
However, investigators uncovered discrepancies between the documents submitted to Indian customs authorities and the original shipping records.
Bills of lading covering the Pakistan-to-Sri Lanka leg of the shipments, along with declarations submitted to Sri Lanka Customs, explicitly identified Pakistan as the country of origin and India as the final destination.
These records contradicted the certificates of origin presented by the Indian importers, which investigators found to be fabricated.
Certificates of origin are official trade documents used to establish where goods have been produced or manufactured. They play an important role in determining whether imports comply with a country's trade regulations and restrictions.
In this case, the alleged falsification was intended to conceal the prohibited origin of the consignments and enable their entry into the Indian market.
๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐
The DRI arrested four individuals under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, for their alleged involvement in the illegal import operation.
Those arrested include two proprietors or partners of importing firms, a Customs Broker's G-card holder and the owner of a Dubai-based supplier.
According to the ministry, the Dubai-based supplier's owner had also established and operated an importing firm in his father's name, allegedly creating another link in the network used to facilitate the transactions.
The preliminary investigation indicated that entities owned by Pakistani, Emirati, Sri Lankan and Indian nationals were involved in coordinating the movement of goods and preparing supporting documentation.
Investigators are examining the roles of the different entities and the financial arrangements used to facilitate the shipments.
The arrests form part of the continuing investigation, and the allegations against the accused remain subject to judicial determination.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ท๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ป
The latest operation follows another DRI crackdown on the illegal import of Pakistan-origin agricultural products.
Last month, the agency seized more than 3.62 lakh kg of Pakistani dry dates packed in 13 containers imported by a Mumbai-based firm. The consignments were intercepted at a container freight station in Ambad, Nashik.
That operation also involved allegations of attempts to conceal the Pakistani origin of imported goods.
The two investigations have highlighted the use of indirect shipping routes and misleading trade documentation to evade restrictions imposed on imports from Pakistan.
DRI officials have identified third-country routing, false declarations of origin, fabricated commercial documents and complex financial arrangements as methods used by suspected transnational smuggling networks.
The agency has maintained that such practices undermine customs enforcement and violate restrictions imposed in the interests of national security and public policy.
๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐ด๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ
India imposed a complete prohibition on the direct or indirect import or transit of goods originating in or exported from Pakistan following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
The restrictions came into effect on May 2, 2025, through a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, citing national security and public policy considerations.
The prohibition applies regardless of whether Pakistani-origin goods are shipped directly to India or routed through another country.
Consequently, consignments originating in Pakistan cannot legally enter India merely because they have been transported through ports in Sri Lanka, the UAE or other third countries.
The latest investigation demonstrates how authorities are using original shipping records, foreign customs declarations and financial documentation to trace the actual origin of imported goods.
The DRI said it remained committed to identifying and dismantling networks involved in circumventing the import prohibition and safeguarding India's economic and national security interests.
Further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the smuggling operation and identify others who may have participated in the alleged conspiracy.