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DRI seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates allegedly routed through the UAE and declared as UAE-origin. Thirteen containers were intercepted. UPSC focus: rules of origin, transshipment, customs intelligence and supply-chain integrity.
WHY IN NEWS
On 14 September 2026, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence announced a major seizure under Operation Deep Manifest involving prohibited Pakistan-origin goods allegedly routed through Jebel Ali to conceal their true origin.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- DRI seized more than 362 metric tonnes of dry dates.
- The action involved 13 containers.
- The importer was a Mumbai-based firm.
- The containers were intercepted at CFS Ambad, Nashik.
- Documents declared the UAE as the country of origin.
- Investigators traced the goods from Karachi Port to Jebel Ali before onward shipment to India.
- The goods were transferred into another set of containers at Jebel Ali.
- India's prohibition on direct or indirect imports or transit of Pakistan-origin goods took effect on 2 May 2025.
- The prohibition was issued through DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated 2 May 2025.
- Operation Deep Manifest targets attempts to evade the prohibition through third-country routing.
- DRI is India's principal customs intelligence and anti-smuggling organisation under the Department of Revenue.
- Rules-of-origin verification is critical because shipment route and country of origin are not necessarily the same.
PRELIMS
- DRI seized more than 362 metric tonnes of dry dates.
- The action involved 13 containers.
- The importer was a Mumbai-based firm.
- The containers were intercepted at CFS Ambad, Nashik.
- Documents declared the UAE as the country of origin.
- Investigators traced the goods from Karachi Port to Jebel Ali before onward shipment to India.
- The goods were transferred into another set of containers at Jebel Ali.
- India's prohibition on direct or indirect imports or transit of Pakistan-origin goods took effect on 2 May 2025.
QUICK REVISION
- Authority/theme: Economy / Internal Security.
- Anchor fact: DRI seized more than 362 metric tonnes of dry dates.
- Second recall: The action involved 13 containers.
PROBABLE OBJECTIVE QUESTION
With reference to rules of origin and transshipment, consider the following statements: