Operation Fire Trail: DRI Seizes 46k Chinese Firecrackers Misdeclared as “Leggings” at Nhava Sheva Port
Just a day before, DRI intercepted 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers worth ₹5.01 crore, disguised as engineering goods, from Tuticorin Port.
In another significant bust under its ongoing “Operation Fire Trail,” the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 46,640 pieces of Chinese-origin firecrackers worth approximately ₹4.82 crore at Nhava Sheva Port in Mumbai. The consignment, which originated from China, was destined for ICD Ankleshwar, Gujarat, and contained goods falsely declared as “leggings” to evade customs checks.
DRI officers intercepted a 40-foot container that was at the outset declared to contain garments. Upon detailed examination, officers uncovered a large stock of concealed firecrackers that were hidden behind a superficial layer of garments. The entire shipment was seized, and one individual was arrested from Veraval, Gujarat. Follow-up searches revealed incriminating documents and details of the modus operandi employed by the smuggling syndicate.
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The unlawful import of such hazardous materials poses grave risks to public safety, national security and critical port infrastructure.
Read More: Foreign Cigarette Seizure by DRI: Gauhati High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Vehicle Owner
Earlier this year, on July 13, 2025, the DRI had announced the launch of Operation Fire Trail with its largest seizure to date, busting ₹35 crore worth of Chinese firecrackers concealed in seven containers across Nhava Sheva, Mundra Port and Kandla SEZ. Those consignments had been misdeclared as “mini decorative plants” and “plastic mats,” revealing a pattern of misdeclaring used by the miscreants.
Just a day before the Nhava Sheva seizure, on October 19, 2025, the DRI had intercepted 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers worth ₹5.01 crore at Tuticorin Port, where the smugglers disguised the contraband as engineering goods.
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The recent trends show a surge of illegal Chinese firecracker imports ahead of the Diwali season. While several states, including Delhi have imposed strict bans on the sale and use of firecrackers to curb pollution and protect public health, demand during the festival continues to carve an underground trade in hazardous goods.
With the DRI intensifying enforcement amidst the festive season, we can hope for a Diwali filled with love and light and bereft of any spurious goods.
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