India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has identified a growing trend among smugglers who are increasingly using stablecoins for cross-border settlements, moving away from traditional hawala networks. According to the Smuggling in India Report 2024-25, stablecoins are favored for their decentralized, pseudonymous, and borderless nature, which appeals to criminal organizations. The report highlights a specific case where $12.7 million was transferred using hawala and USDT following a 108-kg gold sale. In response to this trend, the DRI is advocating for enhanced anti-money laundering tools, updated regulations, and improved forensic capabilities to address the rising use of cryptocurrencies in smuggling and cybercrime.