October 15, Colombo (LNW): Indian enforcement authorities have uncovered an alleged cross-border smuggling network accused of using Sri Lanka as a transit point to move Pakistani-origin rock salt into India in breach of import restrictions. Four people have been arrested as investigations continue into the operation.
India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said the suspected scheme involved more than 7.3 million kilogrammes of rock salt, with an estimated value exceeding US$3.15 million, or approximately INR 30 crore.
According to information released by India’s Ministry of Finance, nine importers had brought 295 containers of the commodity into the country through the ports of Mundra and Kandla since March 2026. The imports allegedly circumvented restrictions imposed on goods originating in Pakistan.
Investigators believe the consignments were shipped through Colombo Port by a company based in the United Arab Emirates. The goods were allegedly accompanied by falsified trade documents intended to disguise their Pakistani origin and allow them to enter the Indian market.
A targeted enforcement operation conducted between 26 September and 11 October enabled officials to identify the suspected shipments. During the operation, five containers carrying around 140 metric tonnes of rock salt were seized.
A key finding in the investigation was that customs declarations submitted in Sri Lanka reportedly recorded Pakistan as the country of origin and India as the intended destination. However, documents presented during the subsequent Indian import process allegedly contained misleading information about where the goods had originated.
Authorities suspect that the discrepancy between the declarations and the certificates used for import clearance was central to the alleged attempt to evade India’s restrictions on Pakistani products.
The investigation has also uncovered links to commercial entities associated with Pakistani, Emirati, Sri Lankan and Indian nationals, pointing to a network operating across several jurisdictions.
With four suspects now in custody, Indian authorities are continuing their inquiries to establish the roles played by the individuals and businesses involved, trace the movement of the consignments and determine whether additional participants were part of the operation.
The case highlights the challenges faced by customs agencies in verifying the origin of goods transported through international trading hubs, where trans-shipment arrangements can complicate efforts to enforce restrictions on specific countries of origin.
