DRI Seizes 21 kg of Foreign-Origin Gold Worth Rs 32 Crore in Major Anti-Smuggling Operations
Distilled Policy Brief
- Key operations included intercepting 15.18 kg of gold smuggled from Myanmar hidden in vehicle chassis at Palwal, and 5.8 kg of gold smuggled via the Indo-Nepal border at Jewar.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and its statutory powers under the Customs Act, 1962.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Analyze the linkages between organized gold smuggling networks across India's land borders (Myanmar and Nepal) and internal security challenges, highlighting the role of enforcement agencies like DRI.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and its enforcement mandate in India, consider the following statements: 1. The DRI functions as an apex anti-smuggling agency under the Ministry of Finance. 2. Seizures of contraband, such as smuggled foreign-origin gold, and subsequent arrests by DRI officers are carried out under the statutory provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. 3. The operational mandate of the DRI is strictly confined to domestic tax evasion and does not extend to investigating cross-border smuggling from neighboring countries. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is the premier anti-smuggling agency under the Ministry of Finance and derives its powers of search, seizure, and arrest from the Customs Act, 1962. Statement 3 is incorrect because the DRI's primary mandate includes tackling organized international smuggling networks, including the illegal import of gold and other contraband across international borders such as those with Myanmar and Nepal.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.