Operation Fire Track: Strict action against coconut smuggling, sugar consignment worth Rs 4.82 crore seized, one arrested

Mumbai, October 20 (IANS). Just ahead of Diwali, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched a crackdown on illegal smuggling of Chinese firecrackers under ‘Operation Fire Trail’. Fire crackers worth Rs 4.82 crore were seized from a container coming from China at the Nhava Sheva Port (Jawaharlal Nehru Port), while a key smuggler was arrested from Veraval in Gujarat. Acting on intelligence, DRI officials intercepted a 40-foot container at Nhava Sheva port, which was going to ICD Ankleshwar (Gujarat). The container’s manifest mentioned ‘leggings’ (women’s clothing), but closer inspection revealed that 46,640 fireworks and pyrotechnics were hidden behind a thin layer of clothing on the front. In total, the shipment weighed about 20 metric tons and contained banned chemicals such as red lead, copper oxide and lithium. DRI seized the entire shipment in terms of the Customs Act. Later during the search, incriminating documents related to the smuggling network were recovered, exposing the operation of the gang. According to the Foreign Trade Policy, the import of coconuts falls in the ‘Restricted’ category under ITC (HS) classification. For this, a special license from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) is required under the Explosives Rules, 2008. Unlicensed importation is not only a legal offence, but also poses a serious threat to the critical infrastructure of ports, shipping and logistics chains. This action is part of ‘Operation Fire Trail’, which is ongoing from July 2025. Under this campaign, around 100 metric tonnes of sugar biscuits from seven containers have been seized so far, the value of which is said to be around Rs 35 crore. These containers were seized at Nhava Sheva, Mundra Port and Kandla SEZ, where the goods were disguised in the name of ‘ornamental plants’, ‘artificial flowers’ and ‘plastic mats’. –IANS SCH/VC Share this story Tags