Chennai: As many 45 Customs officers of the 80-odd officers working at Chennai airport have sent separate letters to the Chief Commissioner of Customs seeking a transfer saying they are able to handle the harassment by certain individuals.
They say that these men intercept officers at the parking lot or visit their homes and persuade them to help turn a blind eye to the smuggling of gold, electronic items and cigarettes, besides threatening to give complaints against them if they do not cooperate.
It is learnt that Customs officials have not made any major seizure of gold or narcotics since June 24 while DRI and NCB sleuths were arresting air passengers for indulging in hawala transactions as well as narco smuggling.
All the letters received at Chennai customs house are similar in nature. In the two-page letter dated July 29, Customs officers named two persons from whom they face threats and detailed the duo's activities by which the officers are 'feeling intimidated'. The letter also claims that one of the two men had supplied a recorded conversation to a TV channel when the officers refused to oblige him.
“They not only make phones calls, but also create a WhatsApp group in the name of Customs with an intention to persuade the officers to help with the smuggling of gold, cigarette and electronic items,' the letter said.
The nefarious activities of these two people have reached a stage where officers are not able to discharge their duties without fear or favour. This creates enormous stress and a good number of officers are planning to leave. This type of obstruction from people with vested interests has made the Chennai international airport a place where government servants are not able to perform their duties, the letter points out.
“Unless the issue is sorted out, I will not be able to discharge my duties and I will be constrained to request for a transfer out of Chennai airport,” the letter reads. When asked about it, a senior Customs official acknowledged receipt of such letters, but only said that the decision on transfers will be taken by Customs headquarters in Delhi.
However, sources in airport Customs revealed that the two men who find mention in the letters are notorious in smuggling activities.
Of late, the duo have also started asking for a return of bribe money from officers concerned even if their consignments were seized by some other team or agencies like DRI or NCB.
