Customs exploitation at airport – Issue raised in Parliament
A member from Kerala Mrs. P. Satheedevi made some serious charges against the Customs at the Calicut airport in the Lok Sabha last week. She said that passengers at the airport were exploited by a racket functioning there inclusive of high officials of the Customs department. Quoting press reports, she said that this racket is headed by a person nicknamed as the airport finance minister. Money and materials are being squeezed by the gang from poor passengers who are returning to their homes after long years of hard work in the Gulf countries. She quoted reports as that the racket is mainly at the cargo section, duty free shop for the dealings of money, valuable articles and even drugs and foreign liquor which is likely to encourage terrorist activities endangering national security as well. She wanted the government to initiate enquiry to find out the big shots behind the loot.