From Karachi to India via Dubai: How DRI busted 25,000 kg Pakistan-origin watermelon seed consignment; two arrested

In a fresh crackdown on attempts to bypass India's ban on Pakistani goods, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 25,000 kg of Pakistan-origin watermelon seeds that were routed through Dubai and falsely declared as products of the UAE. Two persons were arrested following the operation, carried out under Operation Deep Manifest.

The seizure was part of an investigation that uncovered a transshipment network used to conceal the true origin of restricted imports entering India. "Investigation revealed a deliberate transshipment arrangement designed to conceal the true origin of the goods," Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officers examined a consignment imported through Nhava Sheva Port and declared as UAE-origin muskmelon seeds. However, examination revealed that the goods were actually watermelon seeds, with evidence indicating their Pakistani origin. The probe found that the consignment had originated at Karachi port in Pakistan before being shipped to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. From there, the goods were transferred to a different set of containers and loaded onto another vessel bound for India.

"The change of containers and vessels, coupled with the misdeclaration of country of origin and fabricated import documentation, was intended to disguise the Pakistani origin of the consignment," the statement said.

Investigators said documentary evidence clearly established the movement of the shipment from Pakistan through Dubai to India, contradicting its declared UAE origin.

The consignment, valued at around Rs 2.02 crore, was seized on October 14 under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The DRI said the import violated existing policy on two counts. "First, the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan is prohibited under DGFT Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated 2 May 2025. Second, watermelon seeds have been restricted for import into India with effect from 1 July 2024," the statement said.

Further investigation revealed that the importer had brought another consignment of 22,000 kg of muskmelon seeds from the same Dubai-based supplier in February 2026, declaring the goods as UAE-origin. "The evidences indicates that this consignment had also been transshipped, thus casting serious doubt on the declared country of origin," the statement added.

According to the DRI, the importer's son, who owned the Dubai-based supplier firm, and his cousin, who handled import formalities and domestic sales in India, were involved in different stages of the operation. Both were arrested on October 22. The agency said the latest detection brings the total quantity of Pakistan-origin watermelon and muskmelon seeds uncovered in the case to 46,920 kg.

The seizure follows recent DRI actions against Pakistani-origin dry dates and industrial rock salt routed through third countries using fabricated documents and false declarations of origin. "DRI remains committed to identifying and dismantling networks engaged in customs fraud and the circumvention of import prohibitions, thereby safeguarding the integrity of India's trade controls and economic security," the statement added.