Customs Alert
1 Enhancement of Monetary Limits gives relief to
Importers and Exporters from Arrest and Prosecution
Arrest and Prosecution are the most feared weapons in the armory
of the Tax administrator. The recent guidelines introduced by the
Government, put restraints on the manner of exercise of these
powers to rule out arbitrariness, unfairness and to restrict such
actions to serious offenders.
There is no monetary limit for the exercise of the powers of
arrest under the statute, but by Circular Nos. 12/2022-Cus. and
13/2022-Cus. both dated August 16, 2022, the Board has clarified
that arrest should be made only in exceptional circumstances.
Under the new guidelines, no arrests or prosecutions can be
initiated in the following cases: