Smuggling

Amazon sites in Italy raided by police in China smuggling probe: Report

At Amazon's Italian headquarters in central Milan, police seized IT equipment and identified the Amazon manager responsible for the transportation of goods within Italy, the sources added

Updated On: 24 Nov 2025 | 7:08 PM IST

DRI seizes Chinese firecrackers at Mundra port, arrests key smuggler

DRI officers have busted a smuggling attempt involving the illegal import of Chinese-origin firecrackers, seizing 30,000 pieces at the Mundra Port and arresting the mastermind, the finance ministry said on Monday. In a continued effort under operation "Fire Trail" to counter the illicit import of firecrackers, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers intercepted a 40-foot container at Mundra port, originating from China. These containers were declared as carrying "water glass set" and "flower receptacle". A detailed examination revealed 30,000 pieces of concealed firecrackers/fireworks worth about Rs 5 crore hidden behind a front layer of water glass set, the ministry said in a statement. Earlier, in October 2025, DRI had successfully thwarted the attempts of illegal import of Chinese firecrackers at Mumbai and Tuticorin. The import of firecrackers is 'Restricted' and requires valid licences both from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Petroleum

Updated On: 17 Nov 2025 | 10:30 PM IST

It's destination Mumbai airport for smugglers trying to sneak in gold

Criminals seem to prefer the city because it is both a transit hub and a large market for the precious metal

Updated On: 07 Nov 2025 | 12:07 PM IST

BSF foils Pak's smuggling bid, seizes over 5 kg heroin along IB in Jammu

Security forces on Monday foiled a major narcotic smuggling attempt from across the International Border here with the recovery of two bags, dropped by a Pakistani drone and containing over five kg of heroin worth over Rs 25 crore in the international market, officials said. The recovery was made near Border Outpost Jatinder in R S Pura sector during a joint search operation by Border Security Force (BSF) and police, the officials said. The search operation was launched at around 6 am after a Pakistani drone was seen hovering over the Indian side, the officials said. They said two bags containing 10 packets of heroin weighing 5.300 kgs were seized during the operation which was still continuing when last reports were received. The recovery of such a huge quantity of heroin thwarted a major smuggling attempt from Pakistan, the officials said, adding police have registered a case.

Updated On: 27 Oct 2025 | 12:23 PM IST

Pak's ISI-backed drones sent for smuggling sense jamming, scoot back

A Punjab police officer said that after sensing a disruption in the signal between the drone and its base station, the drones are programmed to return to the point where they took off

Updated On: 14 Oct 2025 | 3:32 PM IST

ED raids Dulquer Salman, Prithviraj in Kerala luxury cars smuggling case

The ED on Wednesday raided premises linked to actors Prithviraj, Dulquer Salman and Amit Chakkalackal and some others across Kerala as part of its investigation into a recent Customs case related to alleged smuggling of luxury vehicles from Bhutan to India, official sources said. The searches by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also covered certain vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam and Coimbatore. A total of 17 premises are being covered, the sources said. The action is being taken under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in a recent case unearthed by the Customs related to alleged smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings. The searches are based on inputs exposing a syndicate engaged in illegal import and registration of luxury cars such as Land Cruiser, Defender, and Maserati through the India-Bhutan/Nepal routes, they said. Preliminary findings, according to the ...

Updated On: 08 Oct 2025 | 9:25 AM IST

Two Chinese nationals held in US for smuggling Nvidia AI chips to China

A criminal complaint says the two shipped Nvidia-designed chips, including H100 AI accelerators used to build and run AI software, without required US government licences

Updated On: 06 Aug 2025 | 9:31 AM IST

China spy agency accuses foreign agents of smuggling rare earth materials

China leveraged its dominance in producing these metals and rare earth magnets in trade war with the US, which relies on Chinese supply to make a wide range of products including electric vehicles

Updated On: 18 Jul 2025 | 9:53 AM IST

German customs get creepy surprise as 1,500 tarantulas found in cake boxes

The alarming discovery was made at Cologne Bonn Airport in western Germany, after a seven-kilogram parcel from Vietnam raised suspicion due to an unusual odour

Updated On: 15 Jul 2025 | 10:24 AM IST

Delhi Police busts aviation fuel smuggling racket, 6 held in ₹1.62 cr scam

The Delhi Police on Monday claimed to have busted a racket siphoning off aviation turbine fuel from tankers meant for the international airport here and selling those in the open market as mineral turpentine oil, causing monthly loss of over Rs 1.62 crore to the national exchequer. The illegal operation running for over three years was uncovered following a tip-off received on Sunday, and led to the arrest of six people and detention of two others. The racket is said to be causing a loss of over Rs 1.62 crore to the exchequer every month, with an estimated 5,000 litres of fuel being stolen daily. "The ATF was originally dispatched from HPCL's Asoda Depot in Bahadurgarh for delivery to IGI Airport. However, tanker drivers, in connivance with the transporter and godown owner, manipulated GPS tracking data and diverted the tankers to a concealed location in Mundka," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam said. The security locks on the tankers meant to be opened only a

Updated On: 23 Jun 2025 | 6:28 PM IST

G7 leaders pledge to take joint action to tackle migrant smuggling

The G7 committed to collaborating with social media companies on voluntary principles to prevent organised crime groups from using online platforms to coordinate migrant smuggling

Updated On: 18 Jun 2025 | 7:08 AM IST

FBI arrests 3rd Chinese national in US for smuggling biological materials

A Chinese PhD student has been detained for allegedly smuggling roundworm-linked biological materials into the US. This comes amid a broader probe into unauthorised CCP-linked bio-research

Updated On: 10 Jun 2025 | 12:33 PM IST

What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus allegedly smuggled from China?

Federal prosecutors charged two Chinese researchers on Tuesday with smuggling a crop-killing fungus into the US last summer - charges that come amid heightened political tensions between the two countries and as the Trump administration moves to revoke visas from visiting Chinese students. Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are charged with conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements and visa fraud for allegedly bringing the fungus Fusarium graminearum into the US Jian, 33, was booked in a Detroit federal court. Liu, 34, is thought to be in China. According to the FBI, Liu had small baggies of the fungus stashed in his backpack when he flew to the US last year and, after claiming ignorance about the plant material inside them, said he was planning to use it for research at a University of Michigan lab where Jian worked and where Liu previously worked. What is Fusarium head blight? Fusarium graminearum causes a disease called Fusarium head blight that can wipe out cereal crops such as .

Updated On: 05 Jun 2025 | 8:34 AM IST

FBI arrests Chinese researchers for smuggling lethal crop pathogen into US

US warns of agroterrorism threats after arresting a University of Michigan researcher and her partner for allegedly bringing a deadly fungus into the country

Updated On: 04 Jun 2025 | 9:37 AM IST

BSF foils smuggling in Ferozepur, seizes drones, nabs armed suspect

The suspect, a resident of Habib Wala village, was found in possession of a country-made pistol and a motorcycle.

Updated On: 23 May 2025 | 7:09 AM IST

Russian researcher at Harvard University charged for smuggling frog embryos

Petrova, 31, has been held in custody since mid-February, when customs agents detained her at Boston's Logan Airport

Updated On: 15 May 2025 | 12:00 PM IST

India, Nepal to boost border infra, data sharing to curb smuggling

Recognising that effective border management is important in fight against smuggling, discussions also included upgrade of border infrastructure and automation and digitisation of transit processes

Updated On: 13 Apr 2025 | 3:38 PM IST

Pakistani-Canadian held for smuggling US tech to Pak military entities

A Pakistani-Canadian national has been arrested for running a years-long scheme to circumvent US export control laws and smuggle millions of dollars' worth of American technology to entities associated with Pakistan's military and weapons programmes. Mohammad Jawaid Aziz (67) was arrested on March 21 in the Western District of Washington while attempting to cross into the United States from Canada. He remains detained, pending transfer to the district of Minnesota. Aziz has been charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Export Control Reform Act, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison; and violating the Export Control Reform Act, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. The indictment alleges that from 2003 through approximately March 2019, Aziz operated an illicit procurement network through his Canada-based company Diversified Technology Services. The purpose of the network was

Updated On: 31 Mar 2025 | 9:13 AM IST

US intel names India, China in fentanyl supply as Trump targets tariffs

In a report published last year, India was mentioned only as one of the countries from which Mexican groups were sourcing chemicals. China, on the other hand, was named as the primary supplier

Updated On: 26 Mar 2025 | 5:10 PM IST

Probe confirms allegations of police protocol misuse by actress Ranya Rao

The probe into the possible role of DGP-rank officer K Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case has lent credence to the DRI's allegations that his stepdaughter, Ranya Rao, misused police protocols, sources said on Thursday. According to official sources, during the inquiry by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, a detailed analysis of records at Bengaluru airport revealed that the Kannada actress had misused police protocol services during her foreign travels, particularly upon her arrival at Kempegowda International Airport from Dubai. Analysis of CCTV footage at the airport further indicated that she availed herself of the DGP-rank officer's protocol services every time she arrived from Dubai at Bengaluru airport, the sources added. The Karnataka government sent the DGP-rank officer on compulsory leave on Saturday. Recently, the senior IPS officer was questioned in connection with the gold smuggling case. His statement was subsequently recorded by the investigating team le

Updated On: 20 Mar 2025 | 10:49 PM IST