Smuggling of Chinese firecrackers worth over ₹5 crore thwarted at Tuticorin port

4 people arrested

Mumbai – In a proactive operation to prevent illegal import of firecrackers before Diwali, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized two 40-feet long containers at Tuticorin port under the ‘Operation Fire Trail’ campaign. These containers were found to contain 83,520 Chinese firecrackers. They were declared to be engineering goods; but in reality they contained firecrackers. The value of the seized goods is ₹5.1 crore and these goods were seized along with the ‘cover cargo’ of ‘silicone sealant gun’.

Operation Fire Trail: Illegally smuggled Chinese firecrackers worth approximately ₹5 crores seized at the Tuticorin port by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on eve of #Diwali

 • 4 people arrested

The import of firecrackers is restricted. pic.twitter.com/K4aLoJKkdY

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) October 20, 2025

The entire operation was carried out between October 14th and 18th. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials arrested the importer in Tuticorin. After further investigation, 3 more persons (including 2 persons from Mumbai) have been arrested from Chennai and Tuticorin. All the 4 accused have been sent to judicial custody in this smuggling case.

Import of firecrackers is prohibited under the Indian Trade Classification (HS – Harmonized System (a standard system) of the Foreign Trade Policy and requires a license from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization under the Explosives Rules, 2008. Such illegal imports along with false declaration is not only a violation of the Foreign Trade and Safety Act, but also poses a serious threat to public safety and port infrastructure due to the highly flammable nature of firecrackers.