ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2002
(Mumbai, 6th & 7th September, 2002)
PREVENTIVE SERVICE - A COMMITMENT TO THE NATION
- P.K.Gupta
Supdt. of Customs, Mumbai
Officers of the Customs Preventive Service are deployed on the frontiers to combat smuggling and protect the economy of our country. The Customs Act, 1962 was enacted to regulate import and export of goods by levying of customs duty, preventing smuggling activities and providing for deterrent action against offenders. Field staff like Preventive Officers and Superintendents of Customs form the backbone of the Customs Preventive Service and are entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing this statue. It is a challenging job requiring physical fitness to work for long hours as well as mental alertness to the happenings around us. Patience, honesty sincerity, an innate ability to observe and analyse and a high sense of loyalty, responsibility and commitment are the hallmarks of a dedicated customs officer. In fact, the job explores all the human faculties of the preventive staff whose success in implementing the law by effecting seizures and in booking offenders contributes to -
a) Protecting the economy of our nation
b) Maintaining the security of the country and high standards of decency/ morality
c) Conserving foreign exchange and natural resources
d) Preventing damage to the domestic industry, social fabric
e) Safeguarding the balance of payments and
f) Protecting national treasures of artistic/historical/archeological values.
The Rummaging & Intelligence (R & I) wing is one of the oldest units of the Mumbai Customs which combats smuggling on and off shore. In 1999 The R & I effected seizures of over 1100 gold bars in three separate cases on vessels MV Rossana, MV Barzan and MV Al- Wataya. The R & I also has large hauls of gold, silver, narcotic drugs and dutiable goods to its credit besides the largest ever seizure of over 4400 gold bars in 1989 in which the notorious Tiger Memon had been arrested. Officers of the R & I also effected a major seizure of detonators in the docks. A measure of the outstanding efforts put in by the officers of the R&I is reflected in the fact that 33 of them have been honoured with the celebrated Presidential Appreciation Certificates.
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) is another premier unit having jurisdiction over the Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport of Mumbai. It is credited with the seizures of gold concealed in unimaginable places such as below the seat of toilets in the aircraft, cargo hold and panels of the aircrafts, igloo baggage containers of airlines, compressors of air conditioners and refrigerators, tractor gear parts, in the form of various instruments and appliances and in many other places and forms beyond imagination. In 1992 the AIU effected the largest ever single seizure of gold at any airport in India, consisting of 1832 gold bars weighing 211kgs which were concealed within a metal flange - a wheel shaped structure weighing 575 kgs. It has also effected a major seizure of over 300 kgs. of narcotic drugs recently from a passenger bound for Johannesburg. The Air Intelligence Unit has 9 awardees of Presidential Appreciation Certificate from within its ranks.
Liberalisation of economy has been achieved through of various exemption schemes which have strengthened the quality of goods manufactured by the local industry by way of quality imports. A number of export incentives were introduced to give opportunity to the local manufacturers to compete in international market by offering their produce at a lower price. However, this boost to economy was not without pitfalls. Export incentives, drawback rates and excise duty rebates on actual exports gave rise to several 'fly by night' type operators who exploited loopholes to draw undue benefits either through fraudulent or non-existent or over invoiced exports. The Special Investigation & Intelligence Branch (SIB) and the Central Intelligence Unit (CIU) have had their hands full in keeping a vigilant eye on such nefarious activities and bringing such operators to book. Officers of the Central Intelligence Unit, Rummaging & Intelligence Wing and SUB (Exports) have detected illegal drawback claims of over Rs. 40 crores. The Central Intelligence Unit also uncovered a unique modus operandi in the ED I system of misuse of passwords of authorised officers in preparing false examination reports and let export orders. The CIU also booked an offender who submitted false drawback claims on basis of fabricated/forged manual shipping bills without making any actual exports at all. In another major cases, the CIU also busted a racket of smuggling of dutiable goods in the guise of already examined unaccompanied baggage and of substitution of newly imported cars with old and junk cars with the connivance of warehouse keepers.
The import of rough diamonds was prohibited earlier but was allowed later against valid licences issued to exporters of diamonds upto a certain percentage of the value of their exports so as to safeguard inflow and outflow of foreign currency through such exports and imports. Such licences were freely tradable at premium which benefited actual exporters. The Central Intelligence Unit booked several unscrupulous elements who managed to obtain such licences with face values of over Rs. 10 crores by fabricating the pre-requisite export documents. Similarly, the Air Intelligence Unit established a case of import of rough diamonds valued at Rs. 300 crores approx. against forged and fabricated licences. The SHB (Exports) established a case of wrongful imports of goods for 100% EOUs without discharging export obligations and causing a revenue loss of over Rs. 40 crores. Several officers from the CIU, SHB (Import) and SHB (Export) also had the honour of being awarded the prestigious Presidential Appreciation Certificate, the Samman Patra and Certificates of Appreciation from the Central Board of Excise & Customs and the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai.
Numerous other cases effected by our officers cannot be detailed in these columns due to space constraints. We salute those officers whose deeds have glorified our service. We should resolve to continue to work to protect the sovereignty and integrity of our country by discharging our responsibilities with dedication, devotion, sincerity, impartiality and honesty and in accordance with the laws enacted under the Constitution of India which we are committed to uphold.