Guidelines for handling and storage of valuable goods that are seized/ confiscated by the Department

Circular No.ES/ 253/ 2018-19 18^th October, 2018

To: Members of the Council

Sub.: Guidelines for handling and storage of valuable goods that are seized/ confiscated by the Department

Dear Member,

We would like to inform you that CBIC has issued Instruction No.17/2018- Customs dated 15^th October, 2018 issuing guidelines for handling and storage of valuable goods that are seized/ confiscated by the Department. The issue was also flagged by Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in 2015, following which a Multi-Disciplinary committee was set up to recommend ways (given below) to strengthen the system for protecting Customs seized valuables.

The Customs department has asked field officers to put in place "Intelligent Key Management System' for handling and safe keeping of confiscated and seized valuable goods.
The packages containing valuables should be bar-coded to ensure that inventories are maintained correctly.
The system of 'e-malkhana' should be introduced at Customs warehouse on the lines of Delhi customs.
The access to Strong Rooms/Valuables Godowns is restricted to only authorised officers.
An Intelligent Key Management System may be put in place where authorised officers can access the keys only after biometric verification.
This system should include a feature to ensure that the keys can be accessed only when CCTV system is in activated mode. This would create an electronic record of all transactions and strengthen accountability.
The gross weight of the sealed containers should be recorded in the Panchnama/Mahazar and this weight should be checked periodically as well as at the time for handing over/taking over etc. This would help in detecting cases of theft/pilferage/substitution, if any.
The guidelines also suggested that all the strong rooms should be equipped with electronic weighing and X-ray machines, with a view to periodically check the seized inventories.
All the packages should be tagged with GPS to prevent theft, pilferage and substitution during the movement of valuables.
The field offices should also issue Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to further strengthen and secure the internal systems and procedures to prevent theft of seized valuables.