The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Tuesday got hold of approximately 28 lakh peacock tail feathers worth Rs 2.01 crore at Nhava Sheva Port, one of the largest such seizures in recent history. The feathers were being smuggled from India to China via concealment and misdeclaration in export cargo falsely declared as “doormat made up of coir”.

According to DRI sources, the exporter apprehended by the agency is considered the primary perpetrator, and further investigations are ongoing to uncover the suspected extensive smuggling network.