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India strengthened its anti-smuggling framework by signing 42 international MoUs and intensifying AI-driven border enforcement. Major seizures of gold, narcotics, wildlife products, and illicit goods highlight the growing scale of transnational crime and the government’s technology-led response.
India Ramps Up Global Anti-Smuggling Drive
New Delhi: India has significantly strengthened its fight against transnational smuggling by expanding its international enforcement partnerships and deploying advanced technology at its borders. Speaking at FICCI CASCADE’s 5th Anti-Smuggling Day in New Delhi, Mohan Kumar Singh, Member – Compliance Management, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), outlined the country’s evolving strategy to counter increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks.
India has signed 42 Mutual Customs Cooperation Agreements (MoUs) with key trading partners and is currently negotiating 21 more. These agreements enhance intelligence sharing, cross-border coordination, and joint enforcement efforts. The move reflects India’s recognition that smuggling is no longer a localized issue but a complex international challenge requiring coordinated global action.
Officials emphasized that modern smuggling operations are technology-driven, highly organized, and commodity-agnostic — dealing in everything from gold and narcotics to wildlife products and dual-use goods. These networks rely on digital anonymity, complex financial layering, and cross-border logistics to evade detection.
CBIC and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have significantly intensified enforcement in the current financial year. In just the first three quarters, authorities seized approximately:
500 kg of gold
150 million sticks of illicit cigarettes
20 metric tonnes of red sanders
120 kg of cocaine
50 kg of heroin
350 kg of amphetamines
3,700 kg of hydroponic cannabis
Additionally, over 100 wildlife trafficking cases were detected, along with seizures of arms, ammunition, drones, dual-use goods, and fake Indian currency notes. These figures underline the scale and diversity of smuggling threats confronting the country.
The government is increasingly relying on advanced technological solutions to strengthen border security. Risk-based inspections, AI-driven analytics, non-intrusive cargo examination systems, and advanced scanning technologies are now central to customs operations.
Recent Union Budget announcements have further boosted enforcement capabilities through AI-powered image analytics and expanded container scanning at major ports. These measures aim to identify suspicious consignments before they enter domestic markets. Simultaneously, GST simplification and customs reforms are designed to improve compliance and reduce incentives for illicit trade.
FICCI CASCADE highlighted the broader economic consequences of smuggling. A 2024 study estimates that India’s illicit market was valued at nearly ₹8 lakh crore in 2022–23 across major sectors. Earlier findings revealed that illicit trade led to the loss of approximately 15.96 lakh legitimate jobs in 2019–20. These figures demonstrate how smuggling weakens the formal economy, undermines revenue collection, and affects employment.
Speakers at the event stressed that combating smuggling requires collective global action. There was a proposal to seek United Nations recognition of an International Anti-Smuggling Day to mobilize worldwide attention and cooperation.
High-level panel discussions featuring senior enforcement officials and international representatives from agencies such as UNODC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection focused on intelligence sharing, disrupting criminal networks, and leveraging advanced surveillance tools.
Since its launch in 2022, Anti-Smuggling Day has grown into a significant platform bringing together government agencies, industry, international organizations, and civil society. With expanded international agreements and technology-led enforcement, India is positioning itself as a leader in combating transnational illicit trade.
