Drive soon to curb gold smuggling thru' travellers
The first ever meet of customs intelligence of Bangladesh and India concluded yesterday with both parties agreeing to conduct special drives to prevent smuggling of narcotics and gold during the movement of people between the neighbouring nations.
The director general-level meet also decided to establish focal points and form technical committees to devise ways to ensure effective and leakproof mechanisms for exchange of information.
Revenue intelligence officials also agreed to take measures to prevent the abuse of benefits of a preferential trading agreement among Saarc nations, according to a statement of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).
The meet, which took place at InterContinental Dhaka, was attended by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of India and the CIID under the National Board of Revenue. Both sides discussed measures to curb smuggling of gold and fake currency, establish hotlines, share confidential information, conduct surveillance on the movement of people and strengthen monitoring of trade consignments to rein in duty evasion.
The meeting took place at a time when customs detectives here frequently seize smuggled gold and other items. Many officials believe Bangladesh is used as a route to smuggle bullion to India.
The DRI said detectives and customs could annually seize 300 kilogrammes of gold on way to India from Bangladesh.
The next director general-level talk will take place in Delhi in 2020, said the CIID statement.
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