The Airports Authority of India should do a complete security audit, said intelligence sources in the wake of the recent security lapses at the city airport, where ephedrine, a banned drug, and US dollars were seized from inside an airline coach and an aircraft, respectively.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sources noted that eateries and teashops on the airport premises are a fertile place for criminals to keep in touch with airport people. “The breeding of contact in such areas in the vicinity of the airport should be curbed,” the sources added.
Access to the airport should be restricted, the intelligence sources said, adding that AAI should enforce the rules properly so that only people with some purpose move around the airport. “It will not be an intrusion of public life to monitor those loitering around the airport without any reason,” the sources said.
“Security is everyone’s baby and so it is not that AAI or airlines or CISF should alone be blamed. We want everyone to be responsible and adhere to rules and regulations,” the sources said, adding that the quantity of smuggled goods doesn’t matter but pointing out the dangers of a similar modus operandi being used to smuggle in explosives.
The ephedrine and US dollars were smuggled into the airport bypassing several layers of security by airline employees, who acted as carriers for monetary benefits.
“Familiarity shouldn’t come in the way of security especially at the airport. What if the anti-social elements packed some explosive materials and the carrier failed to check the contents and simply smuggled it in for the sake of extra money?” officials asked.
