India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a transnational smuggling network that illegally imported more than 7,300,000 kilos of Pakistan-origin rock salt by routing shipments through Sri Lanka and using forged trade documents to conceal their origin, India Today reported yesterday.
Four people had been arrested in connection with the case, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.
Under Operation Deep Manifest, the DRI detected 295 containers carrying 7,311 metric tons of industrial and Himalayan rock salt, with an estimated value of Rs. 104.5 million in Sri Lankan currency.
The consignments were routed through Colombo port in Sri Lanka, while fabricated certificates of origin and invoices issued by United Arab Emirates-based entities were allegedly used to disguise the goods as originating elsewhere.
The imports violated India’s prohibition on goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, the ministry said.
Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI conducted a coordinated operation between September 26 and October 11, searching premises linked to the suspected network in Gandhidham, Adipur, Veraval, Panipat, Pune, Patiala, Delhi and Mumbai.
The investigation found that nine importers had brought in the 295 containers through Mundra and Kandla ports since March 2026.
Of the total consignments detected, five containers carrying 140 metric tons of industrial and Himalayan rock salt, valued at Rs. 8.48 million in Sri Lankan currency, were seized at Kandla port. The agency also seized sales proceeds worth Rs. 7.3 million in Sri Lankan currency held in the importers’ bank accounts.