Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the apex anti-smuggling intelligence and investigation agency functioning under the aegis of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), celebrated its 64th Founding Day here on December 4, 2021. The celebration commenced with Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurating a function at the Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary
Secretary, Revenue, Tarun Bajaj; Chairman, CBIC, Vivek Johri; and Member (Investigation), CBIC, Balesh Kumar, were also present on the occasion along with Pr. Director General, DRI, Alok Tewari.
FM Sitharaman congratulated DRI and its officers on their performance and commendable service, especially during the pandemic. The Finance Minister also lauded DRI’s compact strength of about 800 officers for their relentless efforts despite the imminent risks and expressed her respect and condolences to the brave hearts of DRI who lost their lives during the pandemic.
The Finance Minister stated that the officers may be keeping a low profile but they were acting like the frontline defence forces doing spectacular work in safeguarding the economic frontiers of the country. The recent smuggling attempts of huge quantities of narcotics, gold, red sanders, ivory, cigarettes etc. unearthed by DRI were appreciated by Sitharaman. She said that the message through such enforcement actions should be such that these acts of brazen attempts at smuggling are nipped in the bud, according to a PIB release.
The Finance Minister further stated that better coordination among law enforcement and intelligence gathering agencies and sharing of actionable intelligence are the way forward in protecting the frontiers of the country more efficiently. Sitharaman also asked the DRI to focus on interdicting dual use technology items as well as preventing the dumping of toxic wastes into our country.
Union Minister of State for Finance Chaudhary lauded the efforts of the DRI officers saying they had brought laurels through their action against the smugglers and economic offenders and appreciated the role played by DRI in nation building and safeguarding the economic boundaries of the country.
In his address, Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj congratulated DRI on the 64th Foundation day, adding that the cases booked by DRI could not be evaluated only in pecuniary terms and DRI is contributing in protecting the economic and national security.
Chairman, CBIC, Vivek Johri extended his greetings on the occasion and stated that DRI’s work ethics and the results are stupendous. He mentioned that the social, economic and cultural impact of actions of DRI is incalculable for preventing smuggling of NDPS, antiquities, wildlife etc. The Member (Investigation) CBIC Balesh Kumar praised DRI for its effective actions against anti-smuggling activities.