**Press Release Summary: Seizure of Smuggled Agricultural Commodities by DRI Mumbai**
**Date:** April 20, 2026
**Location:** Mumbai (Nhava Sheva Port)
**Authority:** Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, Ministry of Finance
**Incident Overview**
The DRI Mumbai intercepted a major smuggling operation involving 132 containers of restricted agricultural commodities. A total of 3,029 metric tonnes (MT) of goods, valued at approximately ₹139 crore, were seized after being misdeclared as ‘Toor Dal/Pigeon Peas’ to evade import restrictions.
**Seizure Details**
* **Total Quantity:** 3,029 MT
* **Watermelon Seeds:** 2,710 MT (Origin: Tanzania and Sudan)
* **Green Peas:** 319 MT (Origin: Canada)
* **Estimated Value:** ₹139 crore
* **Operational Tactics:** The goods were deliberately misdeclared to circumvent government-imposed import restrictions and regulations.
**Regulatory Framework and Violations**
* **Watermelon Seeds:** Import has been restricted or prohibited post-June 2024 per DGFT Notification No. 05/2023 (dated April 5, 2024).
* **Green Peas:** Regulated under DGFT Notification No. 37/2015–20 (dated December 18, 2019). Regulations mandate a Minimum Import Price (MIP) of ₹200 per kg (CIF) and restrict imports exclusively through the Kolkata Port.
**Enforcement Action**
The proprietor of the importing firm, identified as the primary individual behind the operation, was arrested on April 19, 2026. The DRI stated that these actions are part of ongoing efforts to safeguard national economic interests, protect domestic producers, and ensure compliance with trade regulations.
**Contact and Identification Data**
* **Release ID:** 2253877
* **PIB Mumbai Contacts:** Robin Singh / Darshana Rane
* **Email:** pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com
* **Social Media:** @PIBMumbai (Twitter/X), /PIBMumbai (Facebook), /pibmumbai (Instagram/YouTube)
Key Entities Referenced
DGFT Notification No. 05/2023: The specific regulatory policy document that restricts or prohibits the import of melon seeds.
DGFT Notification No. 37/2015–20: The trade regulation governing green pea imports, establishing a Minimum Import Price (MIP) and restricting permissible entry ports.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): The regulatory body responsible for issuing notifications and overseeing import-export compliance for restricted goods.
Nhava Sheva Port: The primary maritime location where the smuggling attempt was detected and the restricted goods were seized.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): The primary enforcement agency that intercepted the smuggled agricultural commodities and unearths import rackets.
Ministry of Finance
DRI Mumbai Seizes 132 Containers of Smuggled
Watermelon Seeds and Green Peas Worth ₹139
Crore; Importer Arrested
Posted On: 20 APR 2026 6:11PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 20 April 2026
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai has unearthed a major smuggling racket
involving restricted agricultural commodities at Nhava Sheva Port. Acting on specific intelligence,
DRI officers intercepted 132 containers containing approximately 3,029 metric tonnes (MT) of
goods that were misdeclared as ‘Toor Dal/Pigeon Peas’.
Upon detailed examination, the consignments were found to contain 2,710 MT of watermelon
seeds originating from Tanzania and Sudan, and 319 MT of green peas imported from Canada.
The total value of the seized goods is estimated at approximately ₹139 crore.
Investigations revealed deliberate misdeclaration aimed at circumventing import restrictions
imposed by the Government. Import of melon seeds has been restricted/prohibited post June
2024 in terms of DGFT Notification No. 05/2023 dated 05.04.2024. Similarly, imports of green
peas are regulated under DGFT Notification No. 37/2015–20 dated 18.12.2019, which mandates
a Minimum Import Price (MIP) of ₹200 per kg (CIF) and restricts imports exclusively through
Kolkata Port.The proprietor of the importing firm, identified as a key individual behind the organized
smuggling operation, was arrested on April 19, 2026.
The DRI continues to intensify intelligence driven operations against the smuggling of restricted
and prohibited goods. These efforts reaffirm its commitment to safeguarding the economic
interests of the nation, ensuring fair competition for domestic producers, and enforcing
compliance with import regulations.
* * *
PIB Mumbai | Robin Singh/Darshana Rane
Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com /PIBMu
mbai /pibmumbai
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Read this release in: Marathi