The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled an organised smuggling network involved in the illegal import of Chinese-origin firecrackers through coordinated operations in Chennai and Mumbai. Authorities seized prohibited fireworks valued at approximately ₹35 crore and arrested 12 persons in connection with the cases. Investigators believe the syndicate used false cargo declarations, forged documentation, and the manipulation of logistics operations to bring hazardous contraband into the country.
Registration Begins for FutureCrime Summit 2026, India’s Largest Cybercrime Conference
Coordinated Port Operations and Cargo Misdeclaration
According to the Ministry of Finance, DRI officers intercepted two 40-foot shipping containers that had arrived from China at Chennai Port. The import documents falsely declared the consignments as carrying trolley bags and sprayers to deliberately bypass customs barriers. However, a detailed physical examination by enforcement teams revealed that nearly 46,000 Chinese firecrackers and fireworks had been carefully concealed behind legitimate cover cargo in an apparent attempt to evade customs inspection protocols.
Unauthorized Container Removals and Inside Facilitation
In a separate case developed through DRI intelligence, Chennai Customs uncovered a smuggling operation involving the illegal removal of 18.7 metric tonnes of Chinese-origin firecrackers. Investigators found that the shipping container carrying the prohibited goods had been illicitly taken out of the Container Freight Station (CFS) without valid Customs authorisation. The firecrackers were allegedly unloaded at an off-site location, after which the container was refilled with different cargo and returned to the CFS to conceal the illegal operation from scanning inspectors.
The ongoing investigation has revealed the alleged involvement of an insider CFS employee who actively facilitated the clandestine movement of the container through the port gates. Two persons, including the concerned CFS staff member, have been arrested in connection with this specific case. Investigators are currently examining digital communication records and port entry logs to determine whether additional individuals or logistics organisations were involved in planning and executing the operation.
Mass Seizures in Mumbai and Broad Systemic Risks
The DRI further stated that since May 2026, it has conducted a series of continuous enforcement operations in Mumbai that have resulted in the cumulative seizure of more than 100 metric tonnes of Chinese firecrackers. During one of those regional investigations, authorities also detected the active involvement of Container Freight Station employees in facilitating the smuggling and attempting to substitute cargo. Ten persons, including four CFS employees—one of whom served as an Exports Manager—have been arrested in connection with that Mumbai-based network.
Officials noted that under India’s Foreign Trade Policy, the import of firecrackers falls strictly under the “Restricted” category and requires valid, pre-approved licences from both the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The illegal import of such hazardous explosive materials poses serious risks to public safety, national security, port infrastructure, and the country’s wider shipping and logistics ecosystem. The DRI is continuing its detailed investigations into the seized consignments, shipping documents, and digital records to trace the intended distribution network across the country.
