DRI Full form

What is the full form of DRI?

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is the full name of DRI. The DRI, an agency of Indian Customs, manages Indian intelligence. Its primary responsibility is to carry out the provisions of the 1962 Customs Act. Due to its successes over time, it has gained a reputation for being one of the top anti-smuggling organizations.DRI has established a large intelligence collection network using conventional human intelligence resources and modern intelligence collection tools. Compared to other intelligence services like RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and IB (Intelligence Bureau), the organization is operated by Central Excise and Customs officers and has a far lesser workforce. An official with the rank of Special Secretary to the Government of India serves as its director general.

This Story also Contains

1. What is the full form of DRI?
2. History of DRI
3. Main functions of DRI
4. Charter of DRI

History of DRI

The DRI was established on December 4th, 1957. However, the Central Revenue Intelligence Board (CRIB), which served as the DRI's basis, was established in 1953. When the Customs and Central Excise organizations across India were established, CRIB addressed all issues related to anti-smuggling and anti-corruption. It was a small division within the Directorate of Inspection (Customs and Central Excise), New Delhi, with one Assistant Collector and two Superintendents. Still, it was directly accountable to the Central Board of Revenue.

Thus, on December 4, 1957, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence was established. It was charged with handling only tasks related to collecting and analyzing information on all types of smuggling activities, deploying all anti-smuggling resources throughout India, and arranging training for the intelligence and investigation officers of the Central Excise Collectorates and Custom Houses involved in similar work.

Main functions of DRI

• The primary intelligence organization responsible for upholding the prohibition on the smuggling of drugs, gold, diamonds, electronics, counterfeit Indian currency, and foreign currency is DRI.

• It is divided into seven areas, each run by the Director-General in New Delhi and supervised by an Additional Director General.

• DRI is further subdivided into regional units, sub-regional departments, and intelligence cells with the addition of new directors, senior intelligence officers, deputy directors, joint directors, intelligence officers, and assistant directors.

• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs officers, which is part of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, Government of India, supervise the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

Charter of DRI

• Collecting information from Indian and foreign sources, including hidden sources, about smuggling illegal goods, drugs, under-invoicing, and other issues.

• Using their intelligence, the Directorate officers can make an appropriate decision.

• Keep an eye on major seizure and investigation cases.

• Collaborating on or taking control of all inquiries that require the Directorate's specialized handling.

• Coordinating, leading, and supervising anti-smuggling operations on the Indo-Nepal border.

• Leading notable investigation or prosecution cases.

• Keep in contact with other countries, Indian Missions, and Enforcement Agencies with issues related to anti-smuggling.

• To maintain communication with the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) through them.

• To maintain statistics on seizures, prices, rates, etc. For identifying trends in smuggling and providing the relevant information to the Ministry of Finance and other departments.

• As advised by the ESCAP (The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) conference, it acts as a liaison authority to exchange or exchange of information among the ESCAP member countries to prevent foreign smuggling and customs fraud.

• To send matters filed under the Customs Act to the Income Tax Department for handling under the Income Tax Act.

• To do research on and make recommendations for solutions to anti-smuggling laws and legal loopholes.