Delhi, August 5: In a significant crackdown on attempts to circumvent India’s prohibition on imports originating from Pakistan, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 364 MT of Pakistan-origin dry dates valued at Rs 3 crore.

According to the Ministry of Finance, officers of DRI, in an intelligence led operation, intercepted 13 containers carrying 364 MT of dry dates, valued at approximately Rs 3 crore, imported at Kandla Port. Investigation revealed that the goods, though declared as originating from the UAE, were in fact of Pakistan origin.

The enquiries established that the goods were first transported from Pakistan to Dubai and subsequently shifted to another set of containers before being exported to India. The importers allegedly suppressed material facts and mis-declared the country of origin in an attempt to evade the prohibition on import of Pakistan-origin goods.

Accordingly, the entire consignment has been seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Last week, the officers of DRI had uncovered an attempt to import around 14 MTs of Pakistan-origin Guggul resin valued at around Rs 1.4 crore through misdeclaration of description and country of origin at Tuticorin port. The consignment, had been falsely declared as natural resin originating from Somalia and routed through Dubai.

Guggul resin (Commiphora resin), a species endemic to the arid regions of India and Pakistan is listed in CITES Appendix II and is categorised as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red list. Investigation established that the consignment was Guggul resin and was of Pakistan origin and had been trans-shipped using forged documentation. Two persons involved in the conspiracy were also arrested.