Airport officials blame contract staff for gold smuggling

Tiruchy International Airport proved to be the major hub in gold smuggling which was exposed in the recent CBI raids that found the involvement of the officials and the contract workers who are employed by a private airline service provider. It is said, the private airline provider has appointed around 250 staff who would mainly concentrate on ramp handling, cargo handling, flight dispatch, cabin cleaning and line maintenance as well as the maintenance works like the electrical, plumbing and air condition maintenance.

However, recently, there was a mega raid organised by the CBI in which 29 persons including six customs officials were arrested. Previously around 10 ground handling staff were arrested, among them six were lodged in the central prison. These ground handling staff were alleged to have helped the smugglers to reach their gold to the persons waiting outside.

This however, prompted criticism among the public that these ground handling staff, who are on contract duty, have only supported in the smuggling activities. It is said, these staff, who are on cleaning works use to take these gold concealed in the seats of the flights.

The involvement of these contract workers came to the fore in the month of February itself when the customs officials conducted a raid at Guntoor in Tiruchy in the house of a contract labourer and seized six kg smuggled gold and the house belonged to one Lawrence, one of the contract staff belonging to the private firm. Subsequently, three persons were arrested for helping the smuggler to reach the gold to the persons who are mainly agents. “These ground handling staff use to work for years and befriend the officials easily and make the opportunity with which they handle the activity smoothly,” said one of the officials at Airport.

The official also said that the temporary workers continue these kinds of activities as there is no set rule for these people. “Either prompt surveillance to these staff or completely restricting them would solve the issue,” the officer said.