CURBS MOOTED ON AIRPORT STAFF TO PLUG LOOPHOLES

A detailed inspection by Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials has found several loopholes, which resulted in unchecked smuggling of gold by a nexus of transit passengers and airport contract staff at the Chennai international airport, right under the nose of central government agencies, multiple sources said.

- SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR

Multiple agencies including Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) met recently to review these issues and thrash out solutions with Customs officials, sources in these agencies said.

This comes in the backdrop of Customs cracking a case where 267 kg gold was smuggled by an international syndicate involving Sri lankan transit passengers and the owner and employees of gift shop ‘Airhub’ in the security hold area of the international terminal.