Introduction: The latest communication from the Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, sheds light on significant developments, ranging from international collaborations to enforcement successes.
Detailed Analysis:
1. International Collaboration: Chairman Agarwal participated in a Roundtable at RILO A/P in Tokyo, focusing on enhancing data/intelligence analysis and regional cooperation networks. Bilateral interactions with key figures from the World Customs Organization and Japan’s Customs & Tariff Bureau open avenues for future collaboration.
2. Fraudulent Summons Alert: The Directorate General of GST Intelligence exposed a disturbing trend of fake summons. DGGI’s proactive measures, including police complaints, aim to curb such activities. Individual taxpayers are urged to report suspicious summons promptly.
3. Narcotic Substance Destruction: Mumbai Customs, Zone-III, demonstrated CBIC’s commitment by incinerating nearly 14 MTs of narcotic substances. This aligns with CBIC’s broader goal and emphasizes its stringent enforcement measures.
4. Export Duty Manipulation: Kolkata Customs uncovered a novel modus operandi involving dutiable rice exporters manipulating transaction values. The investigation led to the recovery of approximately Rs. 9.1 Crore, showcasing CBIC’s dedication to maintaining fair trade practices.
5. Wildlife Protection: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence’s Lucknow Zonal Unit made commendable efforts, seizing 679 live baby Gangetic turtles. This aligns with CBIC’s commitment to combating illegal wildlife trade.
Conclusion: Chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal’s newsletter underscores CBIC’s multi-faceted approach—strengthening international ties, combatting fraud, enforcing strict measures against narcotics, ensuring fair trade practices, and contributing to wildlife protection. These efforts collectively signify CBIC’s commitment to its mission and responsibilities.
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Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman
DO No. 07/News Letter/CH(IC)/2024 Dated : 12th February, 2024
Dear Colleague,
Last week, I attended the Roundtable at the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (RILO A/P) in Tokyo, Japan. The RILO A/P, under the framework of the World Customs Organization (WCO), serves as the focal point of intelligence analysis and liaison of enforcement cooperation with Customs administrations in the Asia and Pacific region. This High-Level Roundtable was centred on the Enhancement of Data/Intelligence Analysis and Regional Cooperation Networks. While the Roundtable was well-structured and productive, it also gave me a chance to have bilateral interaction with the Secretary General, World Customs Organization, the Secretary General, CITES and Director General, Customs & Tariff Bureau, Japan. These interactions will help me understand firsthand the areas where we can work together. Additionally, the Japanese culture, their traditions, values and attention to detail have deeply resonated with me on a personal level.
Recently, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has brought to light a concerning trend involving fraudulent individuals issuing fake summons to taxpayers, whether or not they are under investigation by the DGGI. These fake summons, despite bearing a Document Identification Number (DIN), are not authorized by the DGGI for the entities whose names are mentioned therein. In response to this, the DGGI has taken decisive action, including informing and filing complaints with the police against those responsible for generating and disseminating these deceptive summons. It’s crucial for individual taxpayers who receive suspicious or potentially fake summons from DGGI formations to promptly report them to the relevant jurisdictional DGGI or CGST office for verification and necessary action. This proactive approach will ensure that appropriate measures can be taken against the perpetrators of these fraudulent activities, safeguarding the integrity of the taxation system.
Last week, I noticed that Mumbai Customs, Zone-III officers destroyed narcotic substances weighing almost 14 MTs by incinerating them at a waste disposal facility near Mumbai. Such actions amplify the resolve of CBIC towards the goal of — — —.
On the enforcement front, Kolkata Customs has cracked a novel modus. It was gathered by the officers of the Special Investigation & Intelligence Branch (Port), Kolkata Customs, that the exporters of dutiable rice are getting payments over and above the declared value in the guise of purported export-duty reimbursement from overseas buyers. This reimbursement led to the manipulation of the transaction value of the export goods. The exporter has taken the value as cum-duty-price and excluded the purported duty component, which was being reimbursed from the overseas buyers, leading to short payment of customs duty. During the investigation against 31 exporters by Kolkata Customs so far, approximately Rs. 9.1 Crore has been recovered.
Further, I would like to mention the appreciable efforts of the officers of DRI Lucknow Zonal Unit, who recovered and seized 679 live baby Gangetic turtles. DRI Lucknow has seized 2551 Gangetic turtles so far. Great work!
Till next week!
Yours sincerely,
(Sanjay Kumar Agarwal)
All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes 86 Customs.
