Theft from checked-in baggage had become very common at airports
Picture used for representational purpsose. (photo: DC/File)
Kozhikode: The passengers who do not lock their check-in baggage may lose their valuables as theft from baggage has been continuing at airports in the state. The airline security, which is responsible for monitoring the baggage clearance, has not arrested anyone so far.
Airport sources told DC that theft from checked-in baggage had become very common at airports and most of the cases go unreported as the passengers will only get to know of it after reaching their homes.
“Airport Authority hires people on contract for baggage handling. These staff have free access to every area in the airport, even to the tarmac. We hear several such cases at airports but no action is being taken. We had arrested some ground handling staff after they were involved in smuggling activities. These contract employees do connive with smugglers and help them get the smuggled goods through the staff gate at the airport,” a senior customs official told DC.
Many passengers who had lost their valuables do not go and register complaints. “The main reason is that the passengers cannot really say whether the item was stolen from their baggage at the boarding point or at their destination. So most of them do not come forward and register complaints. They should actually hold the airlines responsible for the items missed from their baggage,” another airport official said.
The Kozhikode customs officials had intercepted several cases of gold smuggling attempts by the ground handling staff at the airport. “We on many occasions have found gold abandoned in toilets. We suspect the hands of ground handling staff behind this as they only keep them inside the toilet to smuggle it out later through the staff gate. Due to manpower shortage, neither CISF nor customs is regularly checking them when they get out of the airport,” another customs official said.
( Source : dc )
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