Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

Subject – Governance

Context – Bihar has again emerged as the state with the highest number of seizures of ganja (cannabis), according to the latest report on smuggling in India by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Concept –

• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is the premier intelligence and enforcement agency of the Government of India on anti-smuggling matters.
• The Directorate is run by officers from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance, who are posted in its various Zonal Units as well as in Indian embassies abroad as part of the Customs Overseas Intelligence Network.
• It is headed by a Director General of the rank of Special Secretary to the Government of India.
• The Agency works to secure India’s national and economic security by preventing the outright smuggling of contraband such as firearms, gold, narcotics, Fake Indian Currency notes, antiques, wildlife and environmental products.
  • Moreover, it also works to prevent the proliferation of black money, trade based money laundering and commercial frauds.
• The DRI has also been designated as the lead agency for Anti-Smuggling National Coordination Centre (SCord).