Indian Airline Crews To Be Frisked Upon Leaving New Delhi Airport To Curb Gold Smuggling
The Economic Times reports the following from New Delhi:
"As cases of gold smuggling involving airlines crew and ground handling staff continue, it has been decided to carry out their extensive frisking while exiting the international airport here.
The move comes after authorities found either an airline crew or workers of ground handling companies allegedly involved in 80 cases of gold smuggling reported in past three years, official sources said.
All employees, including airlines crew, who have access to the incoming passengers need to be checked throughly every time they go out of the airport, they said."
Indian airlines, including national carrier Air India and Jet Airways are targeting passengers and employees who are known to be carrying gold in either on them or in their luggage. Airlines have been asked to "identify such passengers pro-actively."
There have been 4,400 known instances of gold smuggling in India between 2014-15, a 500% increase from 2012-13, totaling about 9,876 lbs.