Major Seizure at Nhava Sheva: DRI Uncovers Rs 139 Crore Misdeclared Goods Consignment
In a significant enforcement action at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized a massive consignment of misdeclared goods valued at approximately Rs 139 crore. The operation resulted in the interception of 132 shipping containers containing over 3,000 metric tonnes of agricultural products that were falsely declared to customs authorities.
Deceptive Declarations and Actual Cargo Contents
According to official statements from DRI investigators, the imported consignments were originally declared as 'Toor Dal/Pigeon Peas' on shipping documents. However, upon conducting thorough physical examinations and verification procedures, authorities discovered the cargo actually consisted of two distinct categories of restricted agricultural commodities.
The detailed inspection revealed the presence of 2,710 metric tonnes of watermelon seeds that had been sourced from African nations Tanzania and Sudan. Additionally, the containers held 319 metric tonnes of green peas imported from Canada. This deliberate misdeclaration represents a clear attempt to circumvent India's import regulations designed to protect domestic agricultural interests.
Violation of Import Restrictions and Regulatory Framework
DRI officials emphasized that these imports directly violated multiple government restrictions implemented to safeguard Indian farmers from unfair international competition. The import of watermelon seeds has been officially restricted since June 2024 under current trade policies. Meanwhile, green peas imports fall under strict regulations governed by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) norms, which include specific provisions such as minimum import price requirements and limitations on permissible ports of entry.
These protective measures are part of broader agricultural policy initiatives aimed at stabilizing domestic markets and ensuring fair pricing for local producers. The attempted circumvention of these regulations through false declarations represents a significant breach of both customs procedures and trade compliance requirements.
Enforcement Actions and Arrest
As part of their investigation, DRI authorities have arrested Pareshkumar Raitthatha, a Gujarat-based director of R.D. International, in connection with the case. The arrest underscores the serious nature of the violations and demonstrates the agency's commitment to enforcing import regulations strictly.
The seizure operation highlights ongoing efforts by revenue intelligence agencies to monitor and intercept attempts to bypass India's import control mechanisms. Such enforcement actions serve as a deterrent against similar attempts to manipulate customs declarations for restricted commodities.
This case at Nhava Sheva port represents one of the larger seizures of misdeclared agricultural goods in recent months, reflecting both the scale of attempted violations and the effectiveness of DRI's surveillance and interception capabilities at major Indian ports.
