The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) is seriously considering setting up a central command center (CCC) and elite anti-smuggling units to control the menace of illicit trade. Official sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday the idea was discussed in the board-in-council meeting as part of the CBR strategy to control smuggling through borders.
Customs authorities suggested to the board-in-council that the CCC and the specialised wing should be established in the board for investigation and prosecution of illicit trade cases.
The council was informed that a number of organisations have been delegated with anti-smuggling powers, but there is no co-ordination among them. Moreover, there is no policy regarding recruitment, training and reward system. This lack of co-ordination makes things easy for smugglers.
The proposed command center will prepare anti-smuggling strategies, develop criteria for selection of officers/staff, training strategy, creation of pool of informers and creation of database of seizures, confiscation and sales.
The board-in-council also discussed the proposal of the intelligence director-general to create a post of member (enforcement).
It was suggested that entire staff of customs collectorates and customs intelligence be placed under member (enforcement). It has been proposed to create elite anti-smuggling units to immediately conduct operations on receiving information about smuggling attempts.
Member, customs also suggested to create special wing of investigation and prosecution, as most of the anti-smuggling cases were lost in original criminal courts or appellate forums.
The board-in-council decided that the proposal of setting up command center should be examined further for a definite decision in future, officials added.
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