Kozhikode: Exasperated with increasing instances of smugglers getting help from airport and airline employees to sneak in gold, the customs wing at Karipur airport has sought urgent steps to insulate passengers arriving from the Gulf. In a letter to the airport director, customs assistant commissioner has requested that 'high sensitive' flights from Dubai should be allotted the airway bridge so that passengers can directly enter the emigration point that would facilitate 'effective checking by customs'.
Despite enhanced vigil, the customs wing has not been able to break the nexus between smugglers and airport/airline staff. There have been at least four instances during the past one year in which airport employees were arrested for trying to help smugglers.
In the latest incident, an Air India security personnel - who had unrestricted access - was nabbed on February 6 after he collected 2.8 kg of gold from a passenger as soon as the passenger deplaned. During interrogation, the official admitted that he had helped smuggle around 11 kg of gold through the airport in a similar fashion in the recent months. The letter says that 'several smuggling instances have been noticed' by customs during the time of arrival of flight IX- 344 from Dubai.
27/02/14 Times of India
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Despite enhanced vigil, the customs wing has not been able to break the nexus between smugglers and airport/airline staff. There have been at least four instances during the past one year in which airport employees were arrested for trying to help smugglers.
In the latest incident, an Air India security personnel - who had unrestricted access - was nabbed on February 6 after he collected 2.8 kg of gold from a passenger as soon as the passenger deplaned. During interrogation, the official admitted that he had helped smuggle around 11 kg of gold through the airport in a similar fashion in the recent months. The letter says that 'several smuggling instances have been noticed' by customs during the time of arrival of flight IX- 344 from Dubai.
27/02/14 Times of India
