Operation Deep Manifest: DRI seizes 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates in Nashik routed via UAE

DRI intercepts 362 tonnes of dry dates in Nashik over suspected Pakistan-origin routing

Theindiapostdaily.com – India’s customs intelligence authorities have seized more than 362 metric tonnes of dry dates at a container freight station in Nashik after identifying an alleged attempt to bring Pakistan-origin goods into the country through the United Arab Emirates.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted 13 containers at the Container Freight Station in Ambad, Nashik. The shipment had been imported by a Mumbai-based company and arrived from Jebel Ali in the UAE. Its import paperwork listed the UAE as the country of origin.

The action forms part of “Operation Deep Manifest,” an ongoing DRI exercise focused on detecting Pakistan-origin products that may be routed through third countries before reaching India.

Route through Jebel Ali under scrutiny

Initial findings pointed to a trans-shipment arrangement intended to obscure the goods’ original source. The dry dates were first loaded at Karachi Port in Pakistan and sent to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE aboard one vessel and in an initial set of containers.

At Jebel Ali, the goods were transferred into different containers and placed on another ship for their onward journey to India. The entities involved in that onward movement were operated by Pakistani nationals.

Trans-shipment is a common part of international cargo movement, particularly at major shipping hubs. Goods may be moved between vessels or containers before they reach their final destination. In this case, investigators are examining whether that process was used to present the cargo as UAE-origin despite its earlier departure from Pakistan.

For import controls, the declared country of origin is significant. It can determine whether cargo is allowed into India, whether restrictions apply, and what checks customs authorities may carry out. Documents filed with a consignment must accurately reflect the origin of the products being imported.

Import prohibition introduced after Pahalgam attack

India imposed a full ban on the direct and indirect import or transit of goods originating in, or exported from, Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. The prohibition took effect on 2 May 2025.

The restriction extends beyond cargo sent straight from Pakistani ports. It also covers goods that may be routed through another country before arriving in India. That wider scope makes scrutiny of shipping records, container movements and trade documentation central to enforcement efforts.

The interception in Nashik illustrates how supply chains can involve several ports, vessels and commercial entities before a consignment reaches an Indian inland freight facility. Authorities can trace the movement of cargo through shipping manifests and related records, including the ports used during transit and changes in container handling.

In this case, the cargo’s journey involved Karachi, Jebel Ali and the eventual arrival of containers intended for clearance in Nashik. The difference between the route identified during the preliminary inquiry and the origin stated in import documents has placed the shipment under investigation.

Operation Deep Manifest targets indirect imports

DRI has continued to identify, stop and seize consignments suspected of being Pakistan-origin goods brought into India through third-country channels under Operation Deep Manifest. The operation focuses on attempts to bypass the prohibition by altering or masking the apparent route of a shipment.

The seizure of more than 362 metric tonnes of dry dates is among the significant actions taken under this enforcement drive. It also underlines the scale at which food commodities and other imported products can move through regional logistics hubs before entering domestic markets.

For importers and logistics participants, the case reinforces the importance of maintaining complete and accurate records through every stage of a shipment. Origin declarations, bills of lading, port documentation and container details can all be relevant when authorities assess whether a consignment complies with India’s import rules.

The investigation remains at a preliminary stage, with officials examining the alleged trans-shipment arrangement and the documentation linked to the 13 intercepted containers. The dry dates have been seized as authorities continue action under the prohibition on Pakistan-origin imports.