The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) issued a newsletter on October 13, 2025, from the Chairman, focusing on seasonal greetings and recent anti-smuggling and enforcement activities. The letter begins with festive wishes for joy and health to the CBIC family. A key development was the revival and second meeting of the National Anti-Smuggling Coordination Centre (S-CORD) at the DRI Headquarters. This inter-agency platform, established in 2019, hosted representatives from 21 organizations, including border security forces and financial intelligence agencies, to discuss evolving organized smuggling trends, enhance information sharing, and enable coordinated responses to safeguard India’s economic and border security. In terms of enforcement, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) successfully dismantled an international gold smuggling syndicate, apprehending 13 individuals, including foreign nationals and airport staff, and seizing 10.488 kg of 24-karat foreign-origin gold valued at approximately Rs. 12.5 crore. The syndicate used transit passengers from Dubai to conceal gold in wax capsules within their bodies, which was then retrieved by complicit airport staff. Separately, officers from the Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch (SIIB) (Import) at Jawaharlal Nehru Customs House (JNCH) intercepted a consignment where 2,200 drones were attempted to be illegally imported by misdeclaring them as water bottles and pens to bypass regulatory restrictions. The summary highlights the importance of the revived S-CORD mechanism and the effectiveness of intelligence-led enforcement actions by the DRI and Customs officers.
Weekly newsletter from Chairman, CBIC dated 13/10/2025
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
DO No. 41/News Letter/CH(IC)/2025 Dated: 13th October, 2025
Dear Colleague,
Festivals are anchors that pull us back to the shore of joy and remind us that a new beginning is always possible. Each festival carries a quiet message of hope rekindled, of bonds strengthened, and of purpose renewed. In this festive season, I extend my warmest wishes for joy, good health, and fulfilment to every member of the CBIC family. May the coming days bring you and your loved ones moments of peace, laughter, and celebration. “May your light shine so brightly that it inspires others to find their own.”
The Second meeting of the National Anti-Smuggling Coordination Centre (S-CORD) was convened last week at the DRI Headquarters, marking the revival of this important inter-agency mechanism. Representatives from 21 diverse organisations, including border guarding CAPF forces as well as key financial investigation and intelligence agencies along with representatives from relevant Ministries, participated in the deliberations. With its constitution in 2019 under the directions of the then Hon’ble Finance Minister, S-CORD serves as a unique platform bringing together all stakeholders engaged in anti-smuggling efforts. The mechanism aims to foster in-depth analysis of evolving organised smuggling trends, promote seamless information exchange, and enable coordinated, real-time responses to emerging challenges in safeguarding India’s economic and border security.
In a significant enforcement action, the DRI successfully unearthed an international gold smuggling syndicate. Acting on intelligence developed by DRI, 13 individuals were apprehended – including foreign nationals, airport staff, handlers, and the mastermind – and 10.488 kg of 24-karat foreign-origin gold valued at about Rs. 12.5 crore was seized. The investigation revealed a sophisticated modus operandi wherein transit passengers from Dubai to destinations such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Dhaka concealed gold in wax capsules within their bodies and handed it over to complicit airport staff for illicit removal from the terminal. Truly commendable, Team DRI!
Acting on specific intelligence, officers of SIIB (Import), Jawaharlal Nehru Customs House (JNCH) intercepted a consignment and subjected it to detailed examination. The scrutiny revealed an attempt to misdeclare 2,200 drones as “water bottles, pens, and other goods” to circumvent regulatory restrictions. The prompt action of SIIB (I) officers thwarted the illegal import and prevented potential misuse of such items. Such display of alertness and swift action is what we need!
Till next week!
Yours sincerely,
(Sanjay Kumr Agarwal)
All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs.
