After a hiatus of over five years, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) convened the second meeting of the National Anti-Smuggling Coordination Centre (S-CORD) at its headquarters yesterday.
The meeting saw participation from 21 key agencies representing diverse domains of India’s enforcement and security architecture. These included border guarding forces such as the SSB, ITBP, BSF, Assam Rifles, CISF, CRPF, and the Indian Coast Guard, along with premier financial and intelligence agencies including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Other crucial participants comprised representatives from the Cabinet Secretariat, CBIC, CBDT, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Railways, and the DISA division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The S-CORD mechanism, originally constituted following the directions of the Hon’ble Finance Minister, held its first meeting in April 2019. Plans for a second meeting were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions. With its revival, S-CORD is set to act as a central coordination platform to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and synergy in combating organised smuggling networks.
Officials emphasized that S-CORD’s renewed engagement will enable closer analysis of evolving smuggling trends, foster enhanced information exchange, and ensure coordinated, agile, and real-time responses to emerging threats affecting India’s border security and economic interests.
The DRI also shared glimpses from the meeting, reflecting the renewed momentum towards a unified national strategy against smuggling and related economic offences.
Read More: CBIC Keeps Tariff Values Unchanged for Gold, Silver, Edible Oils, and Brass Scrap
