Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) celebrated International Customs Day at Nhava Sheva, attended by Finance Ministry officials and industry stakeholders. The event marked the launch of trade facilitation initiatives, including a vision for faster goods release, online customs refunds, a single multipurpose bond, and the Customs Manual 2025. A new DRI Zonal Unit office was inaugurated in Kolkata, featuring sustainable infrastructure. CBIC highlighted the achievements of IRS officer Dr. A. Venkadesh Babu, who authored a book on drug abuse awareness. Enforcement actions included the dismantling of counterfeit currency printing units in Maharashtra and Haryana, leading to multiple arrests. Additionally, Ahmedabad CGST officers exposed a ₹80 crore GST fraud involving over 200 fake GSTINs.
Weekly Newsletter from CBIC Chairman dated 17th February, 2025
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
DO No. 07/News Letter/CH(IC)/2025 Dated: 17th February, 2025
Dear Colleague,
On the occasion of International Customs Day, a befitting celebration was held today at Nhava Sheva in the gracious presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs and the Hon’ble Minister of State for Finance. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from the trade community and other stakeholders from Mumbai, reaffirming the collaborative spirit between customs authorities and businesses. International Customs Day is celebrated annually under the auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO) to commemorate the inaugural session of the Customs Co-operation Council. I would also like to congratulate all the recipients of the prestigious WCO Certificate of Merit for their dedication and outstanding service in strengthening customs administration and trade facilitation.
The event marked the launch of several key trade facilitation initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business – Vision for Expeditious Goods Release on Arrival (…….), online Customs refund, the Single All-India Multipurpose Electronic Bond (एकल …….), and the Customs Manual 2025. These initiatives are aligned with this year’s theme for International Customs Day – Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity.
Continuing the emphasis on infrastructural enhancement to ensure modern, sustainable, and efficient workspaces for its officers, the new office building of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Zonal Unit, Kolkata, was inaugurated last week. Strategically located in the Central Business District of New Town, Kolkata, the state-of-the-art facility embodies CBIC’s commitment to sustainable and future-ready infrastructure. The building integrates eco-friendly features such as waste management, energy efficiency, solar installations, rainwater harvesting, wastewater management, and dedicated green zones.
CBIC takes pride in the outstanding contributions of its officers beyond their official responsibilities. Dr. A. Venkadesh Babu, an IRS officer presently posted in Chennai Outer Commissionerate, has authored an insightful book titled “Silent Terrorism – Let’s Talk About Drugs”, aimed at raising awareness on drug abuse prevention. A passionate advocate for a drug-free society, Dr. Babu has actively sensitised youth across the nation and holds a Guinness World Record for conducting the largest drug awareness session. With extensive experience in narcotics enforcement, he brings a wealth of knowledge to this crucial issue. His work is freely accessible at https://venkadeshbabu.com. Best wishes to him in his mission to create a drug-free society.
The trail of counterfeit currency led the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to dismantle two illicit printing facilities of fake Indian currency in Maharashtra and Haryana, resulting in the arrest of three individuals. The operation was triggered by an earlier seizure of 203 sheets of high-quality currency paper embedded with security threads inscribed with ‘RBI’ and ‘Bharat’ by the Delhi Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate at the New Courier Terminal, Delhi. Recognising the grave economic security angle, DRI took over the case and swiftly traced the supply chain in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. Searches have uncovered critical evidence, including partially printed counterfeit currency and digital tools used in the operation. Appreciable effort by Delhi Customs (Preventive) and DRI in combating financial crimes!
On the GST side, a significant detection was made by the officers of Ahmedabad-North, CGST, Ahmedabad Zone. They unearthed a fraudulent network of over 200 GSTINs engaged in the generation and passing of fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) and claiming fraudulent refunds of ITC through exports without payment of tax. Through meticulous data analysis, it was found that the recipient entities were receiving ITC from dubious suppliers whose registrations had been cancelled. The detection has so far uncovered a tax fraud of over Rs. 80 crore, with further quantification in progress. The main conspirator has been arrested. Well done!
Until next week!
Yours sincerely,
(Sanjay Kumar Agarwal)
All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
