The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a bribery case against three Customs officials—one retired superintendent and two inspectors—accused of abusing their official positions while posted at the Customs Preventive Force unit in Champhai, Mizoram. The case, registered on February 3, follows a formal complaint from the Additional Commissioner of Central GST in Guwahati, who flagged irregularities linked to seizures and releases of smuggled goods during 2022 and 2023.
Champhai, located near the India–Myanmar border, is a key transit point for cross-border trade and smuggling. Officials familiar with enforcement in the region say the area has long posed challenges due to porous borders, difficult terrain and limited oversight, making it particularly vulnerable to corruption and informal settlements.
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Allegations of Detention Without Records
According to the complaint cited by investigators, the accused officials allegedly detained consignments of goods—primarily arecanuts and cigarettes—without preparing mandatory seizure or detention documents. The absence of paperwork, investigators believe, created room for discretionary handling of the goods outside established legal procedures.
The CBI alleges that traders or individuals whose goods were detained were subsequently asked to pay illegal gratification to secure their release. Over multiple instances, bribes totalling more than ₹35 lakh were allegedly collected, after which the detained goods were released without formal confiscation proceedings.
Such practices, enforcement experts note, undermine both revenue protection and the integrity of customs controls, particularly in border regions where informal trade already blurs the line between legal and illegal commerce.
Missing Stock Raises Larger Questions
Beyond the alleged bribery, the case also points to a more serious breach of custodial responsibility. Investigators have alleged that goods worth over ₹1.42 crore were found missing from customs godowns, relating to seizures carried out between December 23, 2022, and April 26, 2023.
The missing stock, according to preliminary findings, pertains to multiple seizure cases and could not be reconciled with available records. Officials say this raises questions not only about individual misconduct but also about systemic lapses in inventory management and supervision at preventive units in remote postings.
Customs warehouses are expected to maintain strict accounting of seized goods, with periodic audits and checks. Any unexplained shortfall typically triggers internal vigilance reviews and, in serious cases, criminal investigation.
Searches Across Five States, Probe Expands
As part of the investigation, the CBI has launched searches at premises linked to the accused officials across five states—Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, Guwahati in Assam, Sikar in Rajasthan, Patna in Bihar, and Churachandpur in Manipur. Officials said the searches are aimed at uncovering evidence of disproportionate assets, cash trails and records connected to the alleged bribery and disappearance of seized goods.
The agency has indicated that the investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected as financial records, digital devices and official files are examined.
The case adds to a growing list of corruption probes involving enforcement agencies in sensitive border areas, underscoring the difficulty of balancing operational discretion with accountability. For policymakers, it also revives a recurring question: how to strengthen oversight in frontier regions where state presence is thin, but the stakes—for revenue, security and public trust—are high.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
