CBIC mandates body worn cameras for customs officers at Red channel
Customs Officers must inform passengers that interactions are recorded, and recordings will be securely stored for 90 days, with extended retention for investigations or judicial purposes
Customs officers manning the Red channel at international airports will now have to wear Body Worn Cameras (BWC), according to an instruction issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC).
“Aligning with the international best practices and the Government’s emphasis on technology driven reforms and Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), it has been decided to prescribe Body Worn Cameras (BWC) for baggage clearance officers deployed in the Red channel at international airports which is the channel meant for passengers submitting Baggage declaration for dutiable or restricted goods brought into the country,” the instruction said.
Further, officers are also advised to wear BWC during any interaction with passengers within airport premises. “This initiative aims to further strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in Customs administration at international airports,” the instruction added. Passengers disembarking from international flights need to clear immigration first, then collect their luggage, and finally clear customs before coming out.
Red channel rules
The customs gate has a channel system, i.e., the Green and Red Channel. According to CBIC, these have been established in line with global best practices, enabling passenger to self-select the appropriate channel depending on their baggage contents and declaration requirements. Globally, Customs have begun adopting digital technologies for audio and video recording to enhance transparency, accountability, and professionalism in passenger facilitation and intervention. Now the same system will be followed in India.
Recording procedure explained
According to the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) prescribed by CBIC, when a passenger is directed to the Red channel counter, the officer shall start recording the proceedings and stop the recording only after the examination and interaction with the passenger are over. “The officer shall courteously inform the passenger that the interaction is being recorded as part of transparency measures,” it said.
The BWC will be placed on the right side in a space specifically designated on the uniform jacket or shirt, ensuring an unobstructed field of view that clearly captures the interaction. Each BWC should be a stand-alone device without any connection to WiFi, Bluetooth, or SIM functionality. A proper record shall be maintained in which the officers will sign and record the time and date of wearing and removing the BWC in the presence of a supervisory officer.
Data retention rules
BWCs shall be used only for official departmental purposes. The BWC shall be handed over to the DC/AC in charge of the Baggage Batch if the officer is required to take a break from baggage clearance work or is assigned a different office duty, the SoP said. “The recordings shall be retained for 90 days unless required for inquiry, investigation, or judicial proceedings for a longer period. Any external access or usage will be with prior approval of the Principal Commissioner/ Commissioner. The ADC/JC (Vigilance) shall conduct periodic random monitoring of these recordings,” it added.
Further, the recorded data shall be securely transferred to the designated data storage system at the end of each shift/day, following proper authentication procedures. “Tampering, deletion, or unauthorized access to footage is strictly prohibited,” the SoP said. Also, there will be periodic verification of the proper usage of BWCs.
Published on January 2, 2026
