Representational image only. File
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Thoothukudi, has arrested four individuals and seized ₹5 crore worth Chinese firecrackers that were illegally imported from the Ningbo port in China.
According to official sources, during an inspection at a container freight station in Thoothukudi, DRI officials discovered ₹2.5 crore worth of Chinese firecrackers inside a container on Tuesday (October 14, 2025). A similar seizure worth another ₹2.5 crore was made the following day, Wednesday (October 15, 2025), bringing the total value of confiscated goods to ₹5 crore. The restricted firecrackers had been smuggled into the country under the guise of engineering tools and carts.
Following further investigations, the DRI team arrested four individuals on Friday (October 17, 2025), in Thoothukudi, who had been hiding in the city to retrieve the goods. They were identified as J. Michael Jacob (36) of Mumbai and a native of Thoothukudi, who had set up a business locally to obtain import and export codes, J. Soosai Manikkam (43) of Thoothukudi, Vikas Dubey (53) and M. Dhasharath Kokhre (43) of Mumbai.
The accused were produced before Judicial Magistrate, Thoothukudi, on the same day and were remanded in judicial custody at Central prison, Palayamkottai. The seized goods were handed over to the Thoothukudi Customs Department.
Published – October 19, 2025 03:48 pm IST
