Customs to check your duty-free bag

Mumbai Customs is introducing stringent measures to prevent smuggling of imported liquor from duty-free shops at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport...

Mumbai Customs is introducing stringent measures to prevent smuggling of imported liquor from duty-free shops at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and is scheduled to start a series of checks at various stages of the supply-sale chain.

Till now, checks were limited to ITDC submitting monthly stocks and sale records to the Customs. But after the Excise Department caught two Customs drivers trying to smuggle 60 bottles of Scotch whiskey in official vehicles as recently as February 28, the authorities decided to change the drill.

Customs officials will now conduct checks at the time imported liquor is brought in to the ITDC outlets and also at the point of sale to a foreign national.

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Excise investigations have revealed the involvement of an ITDC employee who used to sell imported liquor—meant to be sold to foreign nationals only— illegally from the airport’s duty-free shops. An airport health official was also involved in the racket.

From now on Customs officials will be present personally to supervise the transportation of the liquor from ITDC warehouses to its hub at the airport and from there to the duty-free shops. Besides, after a sale a Customs official will be required to verify the passenger’s travel documents (passport, tickets) and endorse the invoice with his signature.

While finalising these plans, ITDC was initially concerned that no Customs officer would be stationed at their outlets to verify travel documents. “Customs officers cannot be stationed at duty-free outlets as it isn’t viable logistically. Secondly, familiarity between the officers and duty-free shop staff will be counter-productive,” explained said a senior Customs officer.

But later, ITDC was convinced the proposed verification of travel documents and the endorsement of the invoice could be done by any Customs officer on duty at the arrival and departure sections of the airport.