The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, has uncovered a major smuggling racket valued at ₹139 crore at Nhava Sheva Port, dealing a significant blow to organised customs fraud and illicit trade activities at India’s busiest container gateway.
Officials said the operation was carried out following intelligence inputs and targeted inspections of suspicious consignments moving through the port. Investigators reportedly detected large-scale misdeclaration of cargo, concealment of high-value goods, and attempts to evade customs duties through fraudulent documentation.
Nhava Sheva Port, formally known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port, handles a substantial share of India’s container traffic, making it a critical node for both legitimate trade and enforcement vigilance. Authorities said the seizure highlights ongoing risks linked to misuse of high-volume trade corridors by organised smuggling networks.
The ₹139 crore case is expected to trigger wider investigations into importers, logistics intermediaries, customs brokers, and linked financial transactions. Enforcement agencies may also examine whether the racket had interstate or international connections involving repeated shipments through multiple ports.
Trade analysts note that such crackdowns are increasingly important as India expands trade volumes and digitises customs processes. Stronger surveillance, risk-based cargo screening, and inter-agency intelligence sharing are seen as key to protecting revenue and ensuring supply chain integrity.
The latest bust reinforces the government’s broader push to tighten compliance standards while facilitating genuine trade through faster and more transparent port operations.
