Customs Clearance at Airports - Board concerned
BOARD has come to know that advance information of passenger manifest transmitted by Airlines to Customs is not properly collated and used for mapping and profiling of passengers who are short visitors / frequent visitors or against whom offence cases have been registered in the past. This information is also not systematically utilized in cases where alerts have been issued by DRI, SIIB or other investigating agencies for monitoring and apprehending the targets. Board takes a serious view and wants suitable computerized database of frequent / short visitors to be forthwith developed at all international airports.
Board is also concerned about the lack of computerized database of offence cases registered against erring passengers at international airports. Only at Chennai international airport, a customized software namely COPS is being used for maintaining and updating an offender database. The lack of database has resulted in inadequate compliance of Board's instructions relating to identification of repeat offenders for deciding fitness for arrest and launch of prosecution.
Board is further concerned that there are cases of considerable variation in assessed value of similar goods at airports. The concerned Board wants the concerned Commissioners at all international airports to develop a valuation database.
Board wants the Chief Commissioners to send an action taken report by 30.07.2011. What will happen if no action is taken? Board will again take a serious view!
CBEC Instruction F. No. 520/14/2011-Cus.VI, Dated : July 01, 2011