Bonded Warehouses - Irregularities Detected

Bonded warehouse controls require strengthened inspection, tallying and audits to prevent unlawful removal and ensure compliance.

Storage in bonded warehouses must follow physical examination and documentary verification so that the Bill of Entry and its reverse confirm declared descriptions and identification marks; at removal the Warehousing Bill of Entry must be tallied with the ex-bond (Green) Bill of Entry. Periodic and surprise audits by senior officers and Custom House audit parties, computerisation of records, mandatory status reports from warehouses for consignments held a year or more, and initiation of action under section 72 of the Customs Act, 1962 on expiry of warehousing period are required to prevent unlawful removal.