The custom house, Mumbai existed much before 1878 when the sea Custom Act 1878 was enacted.which was subsequently replaced by Custom Act, 1962.Initially the jurisdiction of custom house,Mumbai extended over the port and city limits of Mumbai as well as the area in the vicinity of airport. The anti-smuggling activities in this area were a part of functions of the Custom House including the latter of the sixties, there was a sudden spurt in the smuggling activities and to fight the ever increasing smuggling menace and to strengthen the Anti-smuggling machinery on the west coast,the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) by taking into its fold the "Rummaging and Intelligence" division of the Custom House and Marine and Preventive division of the Central Excise, Mumbai.