Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Sanjay Kumar Agarwal on Thursday said that tackling the issue of illicit trade is necessary for safeguarding India’s economic stability, ensuring fair competition, and fostering a conducive environment for sustainable growth. Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day conference on Tackling Illicit Trade in New Delhi, Mr. Agarwal said that CBIC plays a crucial role in the fight against illicit trade. The Conference was organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). 
 
He said customs officers are keeping a vigilant eye over the perpetrators and syndicates involved in smuggling activities.
 
He further added that in the last financial year, CBIC made seizures of about three thousand five hundred kilograms of gold, 18 crore cigarette sticks, 140 metric tonnes of red sanders, and 19 tonnes of Heroin. On the benefits of increased compliance, Mr. Agarwal said that the government has launched Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar scheme to encourage better compliance at the retail level. He said that CBIC is initiating international cooperation on cross-border smuggling.