The jurisdiction of Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate headed by the Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) has a vast coverage. The stretch of cover extends over 370 km long coastline.
Precisely, the Preventive Commissionerate of Mumbai stretches from ‘Dahanu’ in North to Srivardhan’ in the South. The entire stretch from ‘Dahanu’ to Srivardhan is of 370 km lying on the Indian coastline (Arabian Sea). Thus, it covers greater Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad of the State of Maharashtra.
The Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate has two functionary wings: (i) Rummaging & Intelligence wing & (ii) Marine & Preventive wing for dealing with smuggling activities.
1. R&I wing- Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate
The Rummaging & Intelligence wing of Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate is situated at 11th & 12th Floor, Annexe Building, New Custom House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai – 400 001. The R& I wing enjoys a jurisdiction of the areas under the Mumbai Docks & Harbour, Nhava Sheva, Sahar Airport, Sahar Air Cargo Complex, Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ), CFS Mulund, Diamonds Plaza Customs Clearance Centre (DPCCC) and the Mumbai city.
Further, R&I Wing of Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate can be seen as agglomeration of RSR, DIU, NSPU and APU. The first two of which are working within dock and port area Mumbai, the NSPU in Nhava Sheva and APU in Airport and Aircargo Complex Mumbai.
2. M&P wing- Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate
Marine & Preventive wing Hqrs. of Preventive Commissionerate, Mumbai is situated at 100, Everest House, New Marine Drive, Marine Lines, Mumbai-400 007. The M&P wing enjoys a jurisdiction over the areas comprising of 2 Divisions in the districts of Thane and Raigad for anti-smuggling operations. The District Thane area is covered by the Bassein Division while the District Raigad area is covered by the Alibagh Division.
To breaking it down further, the M& P wing encompasses 4 active minor ports in the area namely (i) Revdanda; (ii) Dharamtar; and (iii) PNP Jetty; (all three falling in Alibaug Division) and (iv) Dahnau (falling in Bassein Division).
To be further specific, the M&P wing of Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate covers 220 kms long coastline along with Thane & Raigad Districts. Apart from above for Anti-smuggling operations M & P Wing is also having jurisdiction with R&I in Mumbai City.
Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate-Background
The menace of smuggling has been a part of cross border trade since time immemorial. Smuggling involves the unauthorized transportation of goods across the border. The menace has twin objective, either to bring in/out prohibited goods or the goods which attract high duties.
Mumbai Customs has been synonymous with preventing menace of smuggling and a cracking down smugglers. Later on Customs evolved as international trade regulator & facilitator with anti smuggling only one of the many jobs associated.
Prevention of smuggling: outright or sophisticated has been the job undertaken by Mumbai Customs well since 1878 when the sea Custom Act 1878 was enacted. The country and hence international trade has evolved too far since then and the Sea Custom Act 1962 replaced the earlier Sea Customs Act to regulate the cross border flow of goods.
The Regulatory and smuggling prevention job of Customs had since been operated out from Custom House, Mumbai. Early on, Custom house exercised its jurisdiction over the port and city limits of Mumbai as well as the area in the vicinity of Mumbai airport.
As matter of records, latter sixties witnessed sudden spurt of smuggling activities. It was felt that there had to be a dedicated Customs Unit to check on the ever increasing smuggling activities and to strengthen the Anti-smuggling machinery on the west coast.
Hence, the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) was an outcome of the need of hour. It came into being by taking into its fold the “Rummaging and Intelligence” division of the Custom House and Marine and Preventive division of the Central Excise, Mumbai.
Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate- The Role played
Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) has played very vital in the past and has got multiple roles to play at present.
a) The Creditable Past
Today there are many Intelligence agencies in house and outside the Customs which are handling the Anti smuggling and anti evasion assignment of an early Customs. But decades back, R&I and M&P of the Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate were the only dedicated units for the job. Both the units did outstanding seizures and put many notorious smugglers behind the bar.
To the credit of R&I, Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate has made maximum number of cases on smuggling. Besides, the R&I has also effected biggest haul of Gold & drug seizures in the history Indian Customs.
b) Supportive Present of Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate
As on date with, when outright smuggling has come down significantly the preventive Commissionerate needs to re orient its goals. Besides, changed nature of trade and lowered rate of duties, the Commissionerate is not performing to match up its own past. The Commissionerate also lacks upgradation with state of the art logistics and equipment. And this is also one of the reasons of their not performing well. The niche carved by preventive Commissionerate earlier has been snatched away by other agencies. Both, in house agencies and directorates, SIIB & DRI are there to be credited with.
As a matter of fact, the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) currently needs an overhauling. This would apart from everything else, require a new leadership, training and goal defining. Despite the limitations, they come up to the assistance of other enforcement agencies. The officials from Commissionerate (Preventive) have assumed active roles in the searches and raids undertaken by DRI.
Officers from Commissionerate (Preventive) are also into post seizure assignments of Directorates. For instance, they attend to post seizure work of Mumbai Zonal Unit (MZU) of DRI. Wherein, post seizure assignments might involve, prosecution, safe keeping of seized goods, disposal confiscated goods, etc.
c) Co-ordination & Strengthening Multiple Agencies
Currently, Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) is a part of three inter agency meetings. These meetings take up the specific issue of coastal security. Another aim is to forge a harmony for strengthening overall security preparedness.
1. Coastal Security Meeting :
The focus of the meeting is mainly on prevention of Smuggling and ascertaining the threat perception likely from anti-social elements and smugglers from sea side.
The Customs (preventive), Police, NCB, DRI, Coast Guard, Navy, Maharashtra Maritime Board, Dept. of Fisheries Departments etc. make up the participant of this meeting.
Some times, the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra chair these meetings. And the meetings also feature discussion on the common problems of the participant agencies and solutions thereof .
2. Nodal Group Meeting
These meetings feature issues related to Joint Sea Patrolling and discussions/suggestions to develop an effective security system. The nodal group meetings also aim to exchange certain information and intelligence.
The Customs (Prev), I.B, Police, NCB, DRI, Coast Guard, Navy, Maharashtra Maritime Board, Deptt. of Fisheries etc. make up the participants.
The State Intelligence Department convenes this Nodal group meetings on a quarterly basis. Usual venue is Conference Hall, First floor, State Police Headquarters, Old Council Hall, Mumbai.
3. Lead Intelligence Agency Meetings
Main focus of the meeting is on prevention of Smuggling and ascertaining the threat perception from security angle. Especially, the likely threats from smugglers anti-social elements, terrorists etc. from sea side.
Customs (prev), M & P, Police, NCB, DRI, Coast Guard, Navy, Maharashtra Maritime Board, Dept. of Fisheries Departments etc. are participant of Lead Intelligence Agency Meetings.
The Coast Guard (Western region) convenes these meetings every month as a measure of intelligence sharing. Usual venue of this meeting is Conference Hall, Coast Guard Region (west), Worli Sea Face, Worli Colony, Mumbai.
Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate- A part of Mumbai Customs Zone III
Yes, Preventive Commissionerate, Mumbai is one of the 06 Commissionerates falling under, Mumbai Customs Zone-III.
Other 05 Commissionerates under Zone III are: Commmissionerate of Customs, ACC (Import), Commmissionerate of Customs, ACC (Export), Commmissionerate of Customs, Airport (CSIA), Commmissionerate of Customs (Appeal- III) & Commmissionerate of Customs (Pune)
Mumbai Preventive Commissionerate- An infographic
Below is an infographic to understand the positioning of Commissonerate of Customs(Preventive).
Should you need to know further compartmentalization with in the wings of Preventive Commissionerate, the dedicated govt. website could help you out.
Latest Audit report, that although feature many shortcomings in functioning of entire preventive Customs department, but you can sense the enormity of role.