The newly formed Vijayawada Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate is gearing up for anti-smuggling activities along the 975 km-long coast with Customs Preventive Divisions (CPDs) at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Ongole as the bases.
The CPDs will be assisted by Shore Guard Custom Preventive Units located at Srikakulam, Machilipatnam, Narsapur, Nellore and Sullurpet.
Vijayawada Commissionerate, which has jurisdiction over the entire State excluding Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports, sought the cooperation of State government and Director of Ports who controls all intermediate and minor ports, for carrying out the anti-smuggling work which, according to Commissioner S. Khader Rahman, is intense in Tamil Nadu but almost neglected in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
“Customs Department which constitutes the third line of defence against smugglers, after Navy and Coast Guard (the last one are marine police of the States) could not be compromised as otherwise anti-national elements could wreck havoc as they did on the west coast,” he said.
Making these observations at a seminar on development of ports, Mr. Rahman said due priority will be given to anti-smuggling activities on two counts. One is for preventing loss of revenue to the exchequer and warding off potential threats from the sea with the help of other security forces.
All operational ports have therefore been asked to coordinate with the Customs Department in curbing smuggling activities.
The newly created Vijayawada Commissionerate has 332 officers and staff from the rank of Commissioner to that of a hawaldar.
The Krishnapatnam and Kakinada Custom Houses have 68 officers and staff each starting with joint / additional commissioners at the top.
The revenue projections of Krishnapatnam and Kakinada Custom Houses for 2015-16 have been pegged at Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 1,200 crore. The Inland Container Depot at Marripalem in Guntur district is controlled by Vijayawada Commissionerate.
The functioning and jurisdiction of the largest Customs House in Visakhapatnam remains the same as earlier. It has control over Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports, Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and the upcoming international airport.
