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financial flows, and organised transnational crime, posing systemic threats to
national security and economic stability. Effective enforcement requires strong
international partnerships, timely intelligence sharing, and adherence to global
standards. As the nodal agency for such cooperation, DRI has helped Indian Cus-
toms formalise 45 agreements and MoUs with over 85 administrations worldwide,
strengthening intelligence exchange and operational coordination.

The emergence of cryptocurrencies has added new challenges for enforcement
agencies, given their decentralised, borderless, and pseudonymous nature. Digital
assets are increasingly being used in narcotics trafficking and gold smuggling,
often replacing traditional hawala networks. To counter this, DRI is expanding its
capabilities in blockchain analytics, specialised digital forensics, and inter-agency
coordination to trace and prevent crypto-enabled illicit financial flows and pro-
tect the integrity of India’s trade ecosystem.

At the pan-India level, Indian Customs undertook effective enforcement actions
across multiple domains in FY 2024-25. Gold smuggling remained a key focus,
resulting in 3,005 cases, the seizure of 2,600 kg of gold, and 533 arrests. In the
area of drug trafficking, 379 seizures were made, recovering 37,100 kg of narcot-
ics with an illicit market value of ₹2,212 crore, and leading to 254 arrests. Wild-
life trafficking accounted for 55 seizures and 28 arrests, while cigarette smuggling
saw 266 seizures, involving 13.02 crore sticks valued at ₹222 crore and 50
arrests. Additionally, 3,780 cases of commercial fraud were uncovered, amount-
ing to ₹4,216 crore in duty evasion and illegal export incentives.

As India’s economy grows and global crime networks become more agile, the role
of Indian Customs and DRI has extended far beyond traditional Customs enforce-
ment. It is now an essential guardian of national security, public health, economic
stability, and environmental protection. By combining technology, intelligence,
global partnerships, and operational excellence, DRI continues to protect India’s
borders, citizens, and economy from emerging threats amid a dynamic and chal-
lenging global landscape.

final fill 160 v28 with bleed.pdf 39 12/19/2025 3:25:59 PM