DRI Uncovers Huge Stash of Smuggled Chinese Firecrackers at Mumbai Port

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has carried out a significant seizure of Chinese-origin firecrackers valued at Rs 4.4 crore at Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai, as per an announcement made on Wednesday.

Under the aegis of 'Operation Fire Trail', the Mumbai zonal unit of the DRI acted on specific intelligence inputs to intercept a 40-foot container. Originally declared to transport glass bottles from China, the container was found to house 29,340 pieces of smuggled firecrackers concealed behind the legitimate goods.

Importing firecrackers in India demands strict clearances under the Foreign Trade Policy, necessitating permissions from both the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) as per the Explosives Rules, 2008. The DRI's Mumbai unit has confiscated firecrackers valued at Rs 16 crore this month alone.