Revised Guidelines for Arrest and Bail in relation to offences punishable under Customs Act, 1962

Arrest for customs offences restricted to exceptional situations with revised value and offence based thresholds.

Arrest powers under the Customs Act are to be exercised only in exceptional situations where specified operational thresholds or offence characteristics are met, including unauthorised baggage importation, smuggling of high value or prohibited goods, wilful mis declaration or concealment in appraisement cases, fraudulent evasion of duty, misuse of drawback or exemptions, and fraudulently obtained instruments; certain categories (counterfeit currency, arms, explosives, antiques, art treasures, protected wildlife and endangered species) fall outside the value thresholds and may warrant arrest based on facts and circumstances. The Board directs circulation of these revised guidelines and reporting of implementation difficulties.