India busts Pakistani salt smuggling via Sri Lanka
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 […]
India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a smuggling ring that illicitly imported over 7,300,000 kilos of Pakistani rock salt through Sri Lanka, according to India Today. Four individuals have been apprehended in relation to the operation. Through Operation Deep Manifest, the DRI uncovered 295 containers containing 7,311 metric tons of rock salt, valued at approximately Rs.
104.5 million in Sri Lankan currency. These shipments were transported via the Colombo port in Sri Lanka, with forged trade documents utilized to mislead the salt's origin. The imports violated India's regulations prohibiting goods from Pakistani sources. The DRI conducted an extensive investigation between September 26 and October 11, targeting suspects in Gandhidham, Adipur, Veraval, Panipat, Pune, Patiala, Delhi, and Mumbai.
The operation revealed that nine importers had brought in the 295 containers via Mundra and Kandla ports since March 2026. At Kandla port, five containers with 140 metric tons of industrial and Himalayan rock salt, worth Rs. 8.48 million in Sri Lankan currency, were seized. Additionally, the agency seized Rs. 7.3 million in bank accounts held by the importers.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
