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Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepts smuggled gold

Source:PIB ↗

কেন এটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ

Incidents of cross-border gold smuggling highlight vulnerabilities in border management and economic security, requiring an understanding of the enforcement mechanisms of agencies like the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

সারসংক্ষেপ

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recently seized approximately 12 kg of foreign-origin gold smuggled from Bangladesh, valued at Rs. 17 crore, highlighting ongoing challenges concerning cross-border economic offenses and smuggling syndicates along India's eastern borders.

মূল বিষয়

  • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized around 12 kg of foreign-origin smuggled gold from Bangladesh, valued at approximately Rs. 17 crore.
  • Cross-border gold smuggling poses significant challenges to national economic security, foreign exchange reserves, and domestic market stability.
  • DRI acts as the apex anti-smuggling intelligence agency of India, operating under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, to enforce the provisions of the Customs Act.

গুরুত্বপূর্ণ শব্দ

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

India's apex intelligence agency for anti-smuggling, functioning under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance, to counter cross-border economic offences and illegal trade.

UPSC context

UPSC CSE GS Paper III (Internal Security, Economic Offences, Border Management). Tests institutional frameworks for tackling smuggling and illicit syndicates.

Source
Customs Act 1962

The primary legislation in India empowering authorities to prevent smuggling, levy customs duties, and regulate the import and export of goods, including seized contraband like gold.

UPSC context

UPSC CSE GS Paper III (Economy / Internal Security). Important for understanding statutory powers against trade-based financial crimes and smuggling.

Source
Ministry of Finance

The key Union ministry responsible for economic policies, revenue collection, financial administration, and overseeing specialized enforcement agencies like the DRI and the Customs department.

UPSC context

UPSC CSE GS Paper II & III (Governance / Economy). Tests administrative structure of financial regulation and economic crime prevention.

Source

প্রিলিমস ফাঁদ

DRI is an autonomous statutory corporation established under a dedicated Act of Parliament.

Aspirants often assume the DRI is an independent statutory body created by a separate Act; however, it functions as an apex operational arm under the CBIC, Ministry of Finance.

সংযুক্ত স্থির ধারণা

Economy Internal Security

What is the organizational structure, mandate, and statutory backing of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)?

  • Apex Mandate: Apex Agency functioning as the premier intelligence and investigative agency of India for anti-smuggling, operating under the CBIC, Ministry of Finance.
  • Legal Authority: Statutory enforcement under the Customs Act, 1962, alongside powers across over 50 allied statutes including COFEPOSA and NDPS Act.
  • Core Functions: Countering economic threats including smuggling of gold, narcotics, wildlife, counterfeit currency, and trade-based money laundering.

আন্তঃবিষয় প্যাটার্ন

  • Border management and multidimensional security threats

    Porous borders facilitate not just gold smuggling, but also illegal immigration, human trafficking, and fake Indian currency notes (FICN) smuggling along the eastern frontier.

  • Economic offences and trade-based money laundering

    Unaccounted bullion imports and smuggling syndicates generate black money, directly feeding terror financing and hawala networks tracked by FATF.

DRI mandates, Customs Act powers, and porous border security vulnerabilities frequently feature in Prelims multi-statement questions.

সংযুক্ত PYQ · 2

সংযুক্ত PYQ · 2

  • 2025PrelimsGS1

    With reference to the Government of India, consider the following information: Organization Some of its functions It works under I. Directorate of Enforcement Enforcement of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 Internal Security Division-I, Ministry of Home Affairs II. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Enforces the Provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance III. Directorate General of Systems and Data Management Carrying out big data analytics to assist tax officers for better policy and nabbing tax evaders Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

  • 2020MainsGS3

    Analyze internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard.