DRI busts illegal import of more than 73,00,000 kg of Pakistan-origin rock salt; four arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted 'Operation Deep Manifest' between September 26 and October 11, 2026, busting an illegal import network bringing Pakistan-origin rock salt into India. The DRI detected 295 containers carrying 7,311 metric tonnes of rock salt valued at around Rs. 30 crore, routed through Colombo Port, Sri Lanka, using fabricated certificates of origin and invoices from UAE-based entities to circumvent India's import prohibition. Searches were conducted across multiple cities, leading to the seizure of five containers at Kandla Port, Rs. 20.96 lakh in sales proceeds, and the arrest of four individuals under the Customs Act, 1962. The complete prohibition on goods originating from Pakistan was enacted by the Government of India in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack.