Gold Smuggling On Rise At Chennai Airport? DRI, Customs Propose To Hike Security

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, authorities intercepted almost 440 kg of smuggled gold valued at Rs 248 crore, marking a significant increase of Rs 100 crore compared to the previous year.

A senior DRI official at the airport noted that smuggling incidents involving contractual staff have increased recently.

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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Customs Department have proposed enhanced security measures at Chennai International Airport in response to an alleged surge in gold smuggling cases, particularly involving contract staff. A senior DRI official at the airport noted that smuggling incidents involving contractual staff have increased, prompting a formal proposal to airport authorities to strengthen security.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, authorities intercepted almost 440 kg of smuggled gold valued at Rs 248 crore, marking a significant increase of Rs 100 crore compared to the previous year. The airport also saw a rise in seizures of currency, wildlife, and drugs during the same period, as reported by DT Next.

Security To Be Stepped Up At Chennai Airport

One of the key measures proposed by the DRI involves the installation of container scanners to monitor vehicles entering and exiting the airport, particularly those used by catering companies and fuel suppliers. The official highlighted the challenge in detecting concealed gold in such vehicles, emphasizing the need for more stringent security checks, as reported by IANS.

This heightened security response comes in the wake of recent arrests, including two contract sanitation workers at the airport, who were caught attempting to smuggle gold worth Rs 1.5 crore. The workers, identified as P. Deepak and Pachu Muthu, were apprehended while trying to exit the airport with the smuggled gold, which they had reportedly received from a passenger arriving from Dubai. Upon interrogation, they revealed they were promised Rs 15,000 each for their involvement.

DRI sources revealed to IANS that the agency, along with the Customs Department, raised concerns about contract and ground handling staff collaborating with smuggling syndicates to exploit security loopholes at the airport, as per the report. In response, they have recommended an increase in security personnel at the airport gates, particularly those used by catering and fuel supply vehicles, to curb these smuggling activities.

Additionally, there are broader security concerns, including reports of attempts by the now-defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to revive operations through smuggling routes.