India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has come under criticism for not inviting representatives from Pakistan to a two-day meeting of customs officials that discussed trade-based money laundering (TBML).

Heads of customs of at least 21 countries in the Asia Pacific met in December to devise a common strategy to counter money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist financing and gold smuggling, all of which are issues on India-Pakistan border.

TBML operations

The meeting that included participants from south, south-east and west Asia as well as international organisations emphasised the need for customs officials to share data and intelligence.

Participants also discussed strategies for tackling organised crime related to money laundering, including the use of precious metals and jewellery in TBML operations.

Pakistan excluded

Officials from India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the lead agency that organised the event, showcased its activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the state that for years has been centre of territorial disputes between India and Pakistan.

But the DRI did not invite customs officials from Pakistan to attend the meeting, despite the fact that Indian investigators say they have unearthed trade-based financial crime on the Pakistan-India border involving gold and precious metals.

Categories: Trade Based Financial crimes News