Cosmetics, dried dates of Pakistani-origin worth Rs 12 crore seized at Mumbai port

The DRI has seized 28 containers carrying cosmetics and dried dates of Pakistani origin and valued at about Rs 12 crore at the Nhava Sheva port in Navi Mumbai and arrested two persons, officials said.

The consignments were procured by three Indian importers in blatant violation of prohibitions imposed by the government on the import of Pakistani-origin goods, the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said on Saturday.

A Dubai-based Indian national, operating on a commission basis, facilitated the trans-shipment of dried dates from Pakistan by issuing fabricated invoices. He allegedly used his firms to disguise the sea transport trail.

The containers were routed through the Jebel Ali port in Dubai by mis-declaring them as of the UAE origin, the officials said.

Under ‘Operation Deep Manifest', India's top anti-smuggling unit seized 28 containers loaded with 800 tonnes of cosmetics and dried dates of Pakistani origin, an official said.

The goods were sent through a complex web of transactions involving Pakistani, Indian and UAE nationals, to obscure their true origin.

Money was also routed from India to Pakistan through him, the official said, adding that the supplier has been arrested.

A customs broker has also been arrested for facilitating the smuggling of cosmetics from Pakistan by falsely declaring the country of origin, he said.

In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Centre on May 2 imposed a complete ban on direct or indirect import of Pakistani-origin goods.

The DRI subsequently launched an operation to seize goods imported from the neighbouring country in violation of the ban.