TEAM HERALD
PANJIM; The shore patrolling by the Commissionerate of Customs and Central Excise will begin from next month as the speed boats are presently undergoing routine maintenance.
The Commissionerate lately activated marine formation ‘Shore Guard Parties’ with five speed boats for sea patrolling in a bid to tackle gold smuggling from the coast. The exercise was scheduled to begin from September 1 but maintenance of the boats has resulted in the delay.
However, the customs officials are on their toes checking for any smuggling activity on land even as checks at Dabolim airport has also been heightened in the wake of the recent two cases of gold smuggling involving two international and three domestic passengers.
The activities at all ports are being closely monitored, an official said.
The Commissionerate has foiled 12 smuggling attempts by arresting 20 persons since January this year.
