India, Sept. 14 -- In a significant crackdown on attempts to circumvent India's ban on imports from Pakistan, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted 13 containers of dry dates imported by a Mumbai-based firm at the Container Freight Station (CFS), Ambad, Nashik.

The consignments had arrived from Jebel Ali in the UAE, with import documents declaring the UAE as the country of origin, according to a statement issued by the Indian government.

A preliminary investigation revealed a carefully orchestrated transshipment arrangement allegedly designed to conceal the Pakistan origin of the goods.

"The dry dates ...