Fliers to Mumbai cannot evade customs duty anymore

Passengers arriving from abroad will no longer be able to hide dutiable goods from the prying eyes of custom officials at Mumbai airport.

The custom officials started screening bags at all international arrival terminals at Sahar from July 28.

Since last week, every bag off-loaded from international flights at Sahar is screened before it is placed on the conveyor belt.

"The bags are screened by the X-Ray machines at arrival terminals. In case we suspect that bags contain dutiable goods, we open them in front of passengers and ask them to pay if there are any," said a senior customs official.

The Mumbai International Airport Limited has installed nine X-Ray screening machines at the arrival terminals 2C and 2B of international terminal, Sahar.

The need to for this system was felt more after a host of celebrities and A-listers were found walking the green channel without declaring dutiable goods.

“For years we have been asking for this system as it is available at most international airports. However, due to the modernisation of Mumbai airport beginning in 2006, the plan was kept on hold,” said a senior customs official.