ISLAMABAD: The government has reorganised the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs) to focus solely on gathering intelligence and collecting information about tax and duty evasion concerning imports, exports, and concessionary schemes.

This decision came after the government planned to establish a specialised enforcement directorate to combat smuggling and evasion. Currently, the Customs Intelligence Department serves two functions: information collection and enforcement.

The regional directorates were reduced from eight to four — Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi and Que­t­ta. The Customs Intelli­gence Direc­torate will remain in the federal capital.

According to the notification, the DG I&I will do intelligence and gather information regarding evasion of duties or taxes to be shared with the FBR and the field formations concerned through intelligence alerts.

The intelligence information regarding smuggling, its trends, modus operandi, beneficiaries, facilitators, etc., is to be shared with the FBR and the field formations concerned to carry out trade data analysis utilising advanced data analytics, data mining, machine learning, etc., and to conduct human intelligence through non-intrusive and clandestine methods.

The DG I&I will examine and analyse trade, revenue, or any other economic data to identify patterns of organised duty or tax fraud and inform the FBR and concerned field formations to carry out targeted operations.

Moreover, the powers of section 26 of the Customs Act 1969 (IV of 1969) will only be exercised in cases related to offences under the Anti-Money Launder­ing Act 2010 by the DG, DG of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs).

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024