Cancel passports of offenders: Kerala Customs department

Kochi: The Customs department will soon prepare a list of habitual offenders in acts like gold smuggling and hand over the same to the Regional Passport Officers (RPOs) recommending revocation of their passports.

“To start with, we’ll provide a list of ten habitual offenders each to the RPOs at Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode by this week. Once their passports are revoked, they will be permanently out of business,” customs commissioner Sumit Kumar told DC.

The RPOs can act based on the Customs recommendation under the relevant provisions of Section 6 and 10 of the Passport Act.

“They are two options before them. Either to suspend the passport immediately and then issue them the show cause notice to explain why the action should not be taken or to issue the notice directly. Upon finding it not satisfactory, the passports can be revoked,” the officer said.

The initiative is being taken after it was found that many offenders were returning to the business even after paying fine or undergoing imprisonment or preventive detention.

Another deterrent action planned is to start attaching properties where it is proven beyond doubt that such areas were used to conceal smuggled materials.

“Such proceeds will be attached forthwith under the Customs Act itself without approaching other agencies like Income Tax Department or Enforcement Department,” Mr Kumar said.

A campaign will also be launched soon to sensitise “key persons” who can turn informers to come forward and hand over vital information of smuggling activities.

“The campaign will target people like frequent travellers, airline staff, CISF personnel posted in airports and even loaders, cleaners, maintenance people who are most in contact with potential lawbreakers,” the officer said.