DRI seizes 83,520 Chinese firecrackers worth ₹5.01 crore at Tuticorin port; four arrested
The DRI said on 19 October 2025 that under 'Operation Fire Trail' it seized 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers worth ₹5.01 crore, mis-declared as engineering goods, at Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu and arrested four people.
Summary
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said on 19 October 2025 that, continuing 'Operation Fire Trail' ahead of Deepawali, it intercepted two 40-foot containers at Tuticorin port in Tamil Nadu holding 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers worth ₹5.01 crore, mis-declared as engineering goods. In operations from 14 to 18 October 2025, officers caught the importer at Tuticorin and arrested three others, including two Mumbai-based people, from Chennai and Tuticorin; all four were remanded to judicial custody. Firecracker imports are restricted under the ITC (HS) classification and need DGFT and PESO licences under the Explosives Rules, 2008.
Key facts
- Operation
- Operation Fire Trail (DRI)
- Port
- Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu
- Seized
- 83,520 pieces, ₹5.01 crore, in two 40-ft containers
- Mis-declared as
- Engineering goods
- Arrests
- 4 (operations 14–18 Oct 2025)
Practice MCQs 2 questions
In the Operation Fire Trail case at Tuticorin port (October 2025), the Chinese firecrackers had been mis-declared as:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Engineering goods
PIB: the two containers at Tuticorin held 83,520 Chinese firecrackers mis-declared as engineering goods. (The Nhava Sheva case reported on 20 October involved goods declared as leggings.)
At which port did the DRI seize 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers worth ₹5.01 crore, as reported on 19 October 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Tuticorin
PIB: DRI intercepted two forty-foot containers at Tuticorin Port containing 83,520 pieces of Chinese firecrackers valued at ₹5.01 crore.