By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, DEC 05, 2017: ON the occasion of DRI Founding Day, the Union Finance Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley, asked the premier revenue intelligence agency to keep pace with technology and realign itself to the ever changing economic scenario in order to counter and curb the menace of circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), illicit international trade of wildlife and environmentally sensitive items, clandestine export of antiques and trade-based money laundering offences among others.

The Finance Minister was addressing the august gathering including senior officers and staff of DRI among others at a function organised to mark the DRI Diamond Jubilee in New Delhi yesterday. Mr Jaitley asked the officers to find new and innovative techniques to thwart the new ways of smuggling of sensitive contraband items such as gold and narcotics, and detecting import-export related commercial frauds. He asked them to continue to exhibit the passion and dedication in the light of threat of increased smuggling across the borders and multifarious means of commercial frauds presenting a challenge to DRI, and especially to use the latest technological tools such as data analytics in fighting this challenge successfully.

Earlier, the Union Minister congratulated the DRI, its officers and staff on their past performance. He also appreciated the inaugural issue of  DRI Publication ‘Smuggling in India Report’ released on the occasion and lauded the idea of presenting DRI Martyr’s Medals, done for the first time.

Over the years, as an organisation, the DRI has carved a niche for itself in the field of investigation and law enforcement, adapting and realigning itself to the ever-changing economic scenario. DRI occupies a position of eminence in matters of national security and economic health, playing key role in the Government’s efforts against black money, and in protection of environment and preservation of India’s rich and ancient cultural heritage.