Citing instances of theft of gold and high value goods from strong rooms, the Finance Ministry has asked officers to stop these incidents and also guard the valuables seized from smugglers against rodents and insects.
The move assumes significance as gold worth crores of rupees seized from smugglers has been mysteriously disappearing from highly-secured customs vaults at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here, and from a few other secure locations in the country.
A total of 23.6 kg of gold (worth Rs 6.2 crore as per prevailing market price) has gone missing from the customs vaults at the IGIA, the customs department had said in reply to an RTI query filed by PTI.
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In the recent past, the smuggling of high value goods, especially gold is on the rise, as evident from the increasing number of seizures made by the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence and different field formations.
"At the same time, there have been instances of loss and theft of gold and high value goods from the strong rooms and seized goods godowns reported by the field formations.
"Though there are detailed guidelines for handling and storage of seized or detained and confiscated goods, the recent cases of loss or theft of valuables raise a serious concern over the way these guidelines are implemented by the field formations," the Finance Ministry said in fresh guideline issued recently to top customs and central excise officers.
The responsibility of proper storage and custody of these goods shall be on custodian. The custodian shall also ensure that the packages are carefully stored and protected against the ravages of weather, ants, rodents, insects etc, it said.
The strong room or valuables godown shall have additional security features like CCTV camera at the most vantage point to keep round the clock surveillance.
Cases of mysterious disappearance of gold from the customs secure vaults are being regularly reported. The role of customs officials posted there has also come under scrutiny of the police and senior departmental officials, official sources said.
The gold, in bullion or jewellery, seized from smugglers is kept in secure vaults inside the airport terminals and at other locations by different field formations.
"Only experienced officers whose integrity is absolutely
beyond doubt, should be posted as incharge of the strong room or valuable godown. Similar check from vigilance and integrity angle should also be ensured for the superior officer who is given the overall supervision of the strong room and custody of the second key," the guidelines said.
The custodian should take adequate precautions against theft and pilferage and keep watch on the condition of the goods and immediately report each such case to the Commissioner.
Quarterly inspection of such seized or confiscated valuables stored in the strong room shall be carried out. "The quarterly inspections shall be videographed and a soft copy of such video recording shall be kept in a sealed envelope with the systems unit," it said.
The strong rooms storing valuables should have a double lock system. The two keys for operating the strong room should be entrusted to two separate officers; one to the custodian and the other to a superior or supervisory officer of gazetted rank. It must be ensured that the strong room or valuables godown can be opened only when the two keys are used, the guidelines said.
No person other than the custodian shall enter the strong rooms unless otherwise authorised. Also, no officer, including custodian-in-charge shall be allowed to open the strong room or godown on any holiday (including Saturday and Sunday), except with a prior written permission from the Additional or Joint Commissioner concerned, it said.
In many cases it has been observed that by the time the case is finalised, the seized currency or bearer negotiable instruments becomes out of circulation or time barred.
"Therefore, in the cases of seized currency or bearer negotiable instruments, as the case may be, the genuineness may be checked immediately with the nearest bank available in the vicinity. In respect of seizure of valuables, the same may be got appraised before seizure," the guidelines said.
