DRI seizes 362 tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates routed through UAE

India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted 13 containers of dry dates allegedly misdeclared as UAE-origin, underscoring tighter scrutiny of origin certificates, transshipment routes and food-import supply chains following the Pakistan import ban.

— Source publishedMon, 14 Sept, 2026, 19:36 IST·First seen Mon, 14 Sept, 2026, 19:43 IST·Source Business Today · Latest

What happened

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) · DRI seized over 362 tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates routed via the UAE and falsely declared as UAE-origin. The

Key facts

  • 362 metric tonnes of dry dates seized
  • 13 containers intercepted
  • Import ban effective May 2, 2025

What changed

DRI seized over 362 tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates routed via the UAE and falsely declared as UAE-origin. The action highlights enforcement of India’s Pakistan import ban and scrutiny of food-import supply chains, transshipment and origin documentation.

Why this matters

Audit origin documentation and UAE transshipment controls immediately, as DRI’s seizure signals heightened disruption risk for dry-fruit importers with Pakistan-linked supply chains.

What to watch

  • Additional DRI advisories, seizures or notices involving UAE-origin dry fruits, spices, edible items or other Pakistan-sensitive categories.
  • Customs changes to risk-management-system examination rates, mandatory certificates of origin or documentary requirements for UAE consignments.
  • Clearance-time and demurrage increases at major food-import ports, particularly for containerized dry-fruit shipments.
  • Wholesale price divergence between verified-origin dates and UAE-routed supply.
  • Retailer or importer contract disputes, shipment cancellations and supplier switches tied to origin verification.