Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday called on the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to adopt a comprehensive, technology-driven strategy to combat large-scale smuggling and narcotics trafficking, stressing the need for deeper systemic interventions amid rising geopolitical and security challenges.
Speaking at the inauguration of the DRI’s new headquarters, Sitharaman urged the agency to move beyond surface-level operations and focus on dismantling entire criminal syndicates. “It’s no good if you catch the small fish. The bigger smuggling chain has to be tracked and acted upon. We must take down those nefarious chains,” she asserted.
She stressed the importance of a holistic investigative approach, urging officers to connect the dots and uncover deeper systemic risks. “Investigate holistically, keeping the big picture in mind. Leverage all available resources,” she said.
Identifying narcotics as the most severe threat to national security, Sitharaman called for immediate and effective coordination with state-level law enforcement to prevent drug networks from infiltrating schools and colleges.
Highlighting the importance of internal coordination, she said that efficient collaboration within enforcement bodies leads to stronger outcomes. Sitharaman also underscored the need to maintain public trust in the trade system through fair and intelligent enforcement.
Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Reform, Perform, and Transform’ mantra, the Finance Minister laid out three core principles for enforcement agencies: apply rules fairly, preserve confidence in the trade system, and ensure enforcement is smart and impactful.
“Value- and trust-based compliance is important, not fear-induced compliance,” she stated, while also emphasizing the role of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics in enforcement efforts. “There’s a lot of talk around AI, but I now want to see concrete output using AI,” she said.
Sitharaman concluded by urging the DRI to embrace innovation and deliver results that reflect both the complexity of modern threats and the expectations of a rules-based economic framework.
