Jul 15, 2022
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
(CBIC) has notified controlled delivery regulation, which allows customs
officials to install tracking devices to monitor the movement of
"suspect" consignment.
The new regulation, aimed at curbing smuggling, has included gold and silvers,
narcotic drug and psychotropic substances, precious and semi-precious stones,
liquor; currency; cigarettes, tobacco; wildlife products and antiques in its
list.
This will allow a customs officer at the ports to earmark both export and
import consignments for controlled delivery on "reasonable belief"
that it is "suspect" and can monitor the movement.
The notification says that if a proper officer having a reasonable belief, that
a suspect consignment, is being imported into or exported out of India, in the
form of the baggage or otherwise, shall file a report in FORM-I proposing to
undertake controlled delivery of such consignment.
The report has to be approved and authorised by the specified officer, which
will be principal additional director general or Additional Director general of
Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI).
As per the notification, the customs officer must seek approval as soon as
possible, but no later than 72 hours after making the controlled delivery, if
the officer is unable to get it before doing so