Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers in Lucknow seized 77 gold biscuits from passengers who had arrived from Riyadh at Lucknow Airport in an anti-smuggling operation

 

 

Here is a weekly letter written by the CBIC Chairman to its officers. It is an excellent move by the CBIC to keep the indirect tax team motivated and updated. The communication is worth reading.  

 

 

 

M. Ajit Kumar

 

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi-110001
Tel. No.: +91-11-23092849, Fax : +91-11-23092890
E-mail : ajit.m@gov.in

D.O. No. 87/CH(IC)/2020

Date: 13^th September 2021

Dear Colleague

On 09/09/2021. the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India chaired the BRICS meeting on its 15^th anniversary. In his opening remarks, he said that “with cooperation between our customs departments, intra-BRICS trade will become easier”. This statement highlights the important role our department plays in ensuring that trade between countries flourish which serves as an engine for the growth of nations. We have to ensure that genuine trade is promptly facilitated and that our flagship `Turant Customs’ program is able to achieve the targets set for its core deliverables.

 

To help trade and industry benefit from our trade friendly programs, the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS) has been playing an active role. It has ensured that changes brought in law and procedure are disseminated to the public quickly. The Directorate serves as a bridge between the department and the public at large, especially with taxpayers. With the regular conduct of Webinars on a wide range of current topics, and by effectively tapping the electronic channels as a platform for messages and discussions covering procedural/schematic issues in GST & Customs, the Directorate has ensured that doubts are clarified and procedures demystified benefitting Trade & Industry. I am told that Mumbai Zonal unit of DGTPS had conducted 43 webinars during the pandemic. Similarly, the circulation of the attractively designed monthly `Newsletter’ has kept us well informed on major events within the Department. My appreciation to officials of DGT S for their good work.

Shortage of the availability of containers worldwide for the movement of trade goods has been a much discussed topic at international fora. This shortage has resulted in cost escalation of export cargo, felt more acutely in certain regions like India, making our goods less competitive internationally. Customs instructions are already in place to ensure that containers move freely to service the requirements of trade. However, due to the current situation, Instruction No. 20/2021-Customs dated 10/9/20021 has been issued directing close monitoring and proactive steps to be taken for speedy release of containers. Zonal Chiefs should bestow their personal attention to monitor the same and also ensure that CCFC/ PTFC meetings are proactively used to discuss and resolve problems on this score.

During the week, there have been some good cases on the anti-smuggling front. In a crackdown on smuggling of cigarettes, Delhi Customs Preventive Unit seized about 22.2 lakh sticks of smuggled foreign brand cigarettes approximately valued at Rs. 4.44 crore. In another case made by them, Poppy Seeds weighing 5233 kgs and valued at Rs.1.57 crore approximately that were illegally imported by mis-declaring as ‘Ramdana^. were also seized. Based on a tip-off by NCTC/RMCC, Kandla Customs seized about 9.95 lakh number of cigarettes sticks valued at Rs. 1.17 crore and imported in the guise of soft tissue paper. In yet another case, they have seized 61,180 kg of green peas, valued at Rs. 1.22 crore (approx.), which was mis-declared as faba beans. Import of Green Peas is restricted in terms of DGFT Notification No. 37/2015-20 dated 18/12/2019.

In an anti-smuggling operation, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers in Lucknow seized 77 gold biscuits weighing about 9 Kgs worth Rs. 4.74 crore from passengers who had arrived from Riyadh at Lucknow Airport. The contraband was on the move in two vehicles on the Agra­Lucknow Expressway. So far, 10 arrests have been made in the case. Further, Imphal Customs (Preventive) Division recovered 50,000 Amphetamine tablets from two persons at Khoubu, Kakching Lamkhai, Chandel District. Both have been arrested.

On the anti-evasion front, DGGI Ahmedabad Zone had detected a short payment of GST case of approximately Rs. 139 crores and recovered Rs.30.76 crores from the SPVs who were not declaring the taxable value correctly resulting into short payment of GST. The CGST Ghaziabad Comm’rate too unearthed a GST fraud of taxable value of Rs 252.43 crore and availment and utilisation of fake ITC of Rs 38.29 crore (approx.) involving 15 firms. Further investigation is on.

My appreciation to all the officers who had meticulously worked for making these cases.

On the HR side, Ministry has approved the amendments to the Recruitment Rules of five Group ‘C’ posts (viz. Stenographer Grade II, LDC, Head Havildar. Havildar and MTS) in Directorates for which the DGPM is the CCA. It would be notified shortly facilitating promotion of staff, wherever due, in these cadres of the Directorates.

Giving a boost to the health and welfare of staff, financial assistance amounting to about Rs. 9.84 lakh has been sanctioned from the Welfare Fund for setting up a gymnasium facility in CGST Vadodara-I Commissionerate. Further, two proposals from Hyderabad for setting up of departmental Gym/Sports facilities involving about Rs. 4.08 lakh and for refurbishing of creche at GST Bhavan, Hyderabad, involving about Rs. 2.81 lakh have also been approved from the Welfare Fund.

I am sure these facilities would help maintain and improve the general health of our staff which is so essential in these pandemic times.

It is a heartening to note that one of our Officer Shri Manish Kulhary, IRS has been selected as a member of the Indian Tennis Team for Young Seniors World Championship, 2021 to be held at Croatia. Our best wishes to him for bringing glory to the nation through his achievement.

with best wishes

You sincerely

(M. Ajit Kumar)

To,

All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs