Investigation reveals Pakistani gum resin fraud at Tuticorin port

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has exposed a fraudulent import operation at Tuticorin port involving 14 metric tons of gum resin, valued at around INR 1.4 crore. The resin, classified scientifically as Commiphora, is sourced from the arid zones of Pakistan but was falsely documented as natural gum extracted from Somalia.

According to the DRI, the illegal cargo was routed through Dubai before reaching the Indian coastline, where it was presented to customs officials under the guise of a legitimate Somalian export. Detailed examination of shipping documents uncovered inconsistencies that prompted a deeper probe, resulting in the seizure of the entire consignment.

The gum resin species is listed in CITES Appendix II and marked as "critically endangered" on the IUCN Red List, making its unauthorized trade a violation of both national and international conservation laws. Two individuals directly linked to the scheme have been arrested, and further inquiries are underway to dismantle the broader network facilitating the smuggling of protected botanical products.

This incident follows the recent capture of a large batch of prohibited Pakistani dates at Kandla, highlighting a coordinated effort by customs and intelligence agencies to clamp down on cross‑border smuggling that exploits falsified origin certificates. The DRI has called for stronger verification mechanisms at all entry points to prevent similar violations in the future.