Panaji, Aug 3 - A two-century-old river-front mansion in the Goan capital called the Blue Building is proud of the contraband it houses. For, it's a delightful museum of goods seized by customs and excise officials throughout the country over the last few decades.

Inaugurated by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to Goa last week, the Blue Building - named after the colour of its facade - is perhaps the first museum of its kind, depicting the rich history of the Indian customs and central excise department.

The Blue Building which was built by the Portuguese in the 1800s to serve as an official premise for the Alfandega or customs, was later used by the government of India as the Goa headquarters for the customs and central excise department until 2002, when the museum project was conceived.

'We have sourced seized artefacts from all customs warehouses and the other museums across the country,' Superintendent Lillian Fernandes, in charge of the museum, told IANS.

Of particular interest is the innovatively presented Battle of Wits gallery within the museum that has recreated innovations - some unique, others bizarre - used by smugglers of contraband to outsmart the custodians of revenue.

The Battle of Wits gallery in this Rs.30 million museum project is now a graveyard of criminally oriented innovations, which failed to pass muster with vigilant customs and excise officials. But they haven't got a burial and are being showcased instead.

'Audio speakers systems filled with watches, gold nuggets hidden in cavities carved inside soaps or tucked away into a shoe sole. We have recreated these methods used by smugglers so that visitors to this gallery realise what our officers are really up against,' Lillian said.