Fri Sep 13 01:35:51 UTC 2024: ## Chennai Airport Gate 9 Becomes Smugglers’ Paradise: Gold Seizures Expose Security Gaps
**Chennai:** A major security breach has been exposed at Chennai International Airport, with Gate 9 on the Pallavaram side becoming a prime target for gold smugglers. Sources from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs have confirmed that contract employees, working in collusion with smuggling syndicates, are exploiting this gate to smuggle gold into India.
Last week, two employees, P Deepak and Petchi Muthu, working for ground handling company AI Airport Services Ltd., were arrested after being caught with 2.2 kg of gold worth Rs. 1.5 crore. They had allegedly collected the gold from a transit passenger arriving from Dubai and attempted to leave the airport through Gate 9.
This incident is not isolated, with multiple cases of gold smuggling involving ground handling staff utilizing the same exit route. A recent audit by DRI and Customs highlighted Gate 9 as a potential smuggling hotspot, identifying weak frisking procedures for staff exiting through this gate.
Despite the presence of CISF personnel and a baggage scanner at the gate, contract staff working with smugglers have managed to circumvent security measures. Officials cite the high volume of traffic through this gate, which serves as the entry and exit point for food, fuel, and other vehicles, as a challenge in detecting gold concealment.
To address this vulnerability, authorities are considering implementing container scanners for quick vehicle screening and forming a roving security squad to patrol sensitive airport areas. A proposal to restrict staff entry and exit to a designated gate is also under discussion.
This security lapse at Chennai Airport raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of current measures and necessitates urgent action to strengthen security and prevent future smuggling attempts.
First Piper 