Unused biometric system at Chennai airport helps smugglers 'strike' gold

GOLD smuggling cartels operating in collusion with the staff at Chennai international airport can largely be curbed if a biometric chip enabled access system, already installed five years ago, is put into use, say officials from multiple agencies.

- SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR

In December 2019, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the biometric-enabled Centralised Access Control System (CACS) at 48 airports in the country including Chennai, where around 60 gates were provided this access control facility. All staff at the airport, including officials from various agencies and ground handling staff were given a Biometric Airport Entry Pass (BAEP) which would have to be swiped at the gate for entry. The BAEP has a chip which when swiped against the card reader at the gate, would restrict access to only the employee's places of work.