MANU/CUST/0060/2015

Ministry : Ministry of Finance

Department/Board : CBEC Customs

Instruction From File No. : 394/97/2015-Cus (AS)

Date : 01.12.2015

To

All Principal Chief/Chief Commissioners of Customs
All Principal Chief/Chief Commissioners of Customs (Preventive)
All Principal Chief/Chief Commissioners of Customs & Central Excise
All Principal Chief/Chief Commissioners of Central Excise
All Principal Chief/Chief Commissioners of Central Excise and Service Tax
All Principal Directors General/Directors General
All Principal Commissioners/Commissioners
Web Master, CBEC.

Madam/Sir,

Guidelines for handling and storage of valuable goods that are seized/confiscated by the Department

In terms of Section 110 of Customs Act, 1962 if the proper officer has reason to believe that any goods are liable to confiscation under this Act, he may seize such goods that may include valuables such as gold. In the recent past, the smuggling of high value goods, especially gold is on the rise, as evidenced by the increasing number of seizures made by Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence and the field formations. At the same time, there have been instances of loss/theft of gold and high value goods from the strong rooms/seized goods godowns reported by the field formations. Though, there are detailed guidelines for handling and storage of seized/detained and confiscated goods, the recent cases of loss/theft of valuables raise a serious concern over the way these guidelines are implemented by the field formations. In order to prevent such loss/theft of valuables in future, the following guidelines are issued re-inforcing/re-iterating and in continuation of the existing instructions/circulars in this regard for strict compliance by all field formations. The previous instructions/guidelines in this regard shall be deemed to be modified and revised to the extent specified in this instruction.

2. Valuables: For the purpose of these guidelines, the valuables include:

i. diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, gold/silver;

ii. articles including jewellery made of or containing these valuables mentioned at (i) above;

iii. high value watches;