India Detains Vessel Over Dry Fruit Origin Fraud

Indian Customs at Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva port detained Comoros-flagged MV WIV Reyfa on February 1, 2026, carrying 309-310 containers of dry fruits suspected of false Afghan origin declaration to claim SAFTA duty exemptions.

Authorities suspect importers routed Iranian-origin goods from Bandar Abbas, Iran, via forged transit documents claiming transit through Jebel Ali, UAE, to masquerade as landlocked Afghanistan produce. The ruse exploits SAFTA’s zero-duty benefits for Afghan goods, potentially evading ₹50 crore in duties; one importer is detained, crew interrogated.

DRI’s probe categorized 141 containers as falsely loaded at Jebel Ali, 66 at Bandar Abbas, and 106 without Bills of Entry, revealing flawed Bills of Lading like unsigned versions or missing “Shipped on Board” dates. Customs demands bank guarantees equal to cargo value amid High Court proceedings.

This crackdown echoes CAROTAR amendments mandating “Proof of Origin” since March 2025 to curb FTA misuse via transshipment from China or non-FTA nations. It heightens scrutiny on Afghan dry fruit imports, signaling stricter due diligence at western ports.