Page 34 - DRI ANNUAL REPORT EBOOK

174.5 metric tonnes was seized. As part of its endeavour to preserve and promote public health, DRI made a number of seizures of smuggled Cigarettes valued at Rs 77 crores, detected and prevented smuggling of areca nut and E-wastes. During the financial year DRI arrested 837 economic offenders thus denting the mafia network. This Report brings to fore the broad span of activities carried out by DRI to check economic crime. The Directorate has significantly contributed to the cause of national security by ensuring interception of dual purpose technology goods.
DRI has been a pivotal Organisation for bringing about international cooperation and bilateral collaboration to neutralise trans-national organised economic crimes. DRI actively participated in multilateral operations to mention a few like Operation Sesha III, Operation Tentacle, Operation Thunderball. In a major impact making bilateral Operation Broadsword DRI officers travelled to US and worked along with US FDA against counterfeit medicines. DRI has proactively joined hands with other Domestic Agencies to thwart threats to economic security. In May, 2019 DRI detected a major consignment of 218 kg heroin smuggled from Pakistan, in which the Directorate closely coordinated with India’s Coast Guard and National Technical Research Organisation. Again, in March, 2020 DRI along with BSF detected and seized over 21 kg of smuggled gold on Indo-Bangladesh border. It is highly appreciable that our partner agencies are significantly contributing in anti-smuggling work.
The indomitable spirit of the personnel of DRI has got reflected in their courageous actions against smugglers even at the risk of their own life. Recently the DRI officers had to face the bullets of desperate smugglers near Jodhpur from whom smuggled gold was seized. In yet another incident the smugglers rammed a vehicle against DRI team so as to prevent them from detecting smuggled gold in Calicut which however was recovered and seized. DRI is what it is because of such brave hearts. The patriotism which imbues the Organisation enables it to have “Invisible Presence with Visible Results”.