Airport records five-month smuggling-free run after customs crackdown

Pune: An overhaul of the customs profiling process and enhanced tracking of suspicious passengers have resulted in a five-month smuggling-free run at the city airport.The heightened surveillance and intelligence-led screening appear to have turned the Lohegaon airport into a highly deterrent zone for trafficking networks. Customs officials stated they are now leveraging behavioural profiling, background checks, discreet surveillance, increased manpower, and extensive CCTV monitoring to intercept potential smugglers without resorting to intrusive checks. Random deployments of sniffer dogs have also been stepped up.“Cases of gold and hydroponic weed smuggling, which were frequent until a few months ago, have dropped sharply. There have been no seizures in the past few months, but that does not mean our alertness has waned. We have stepped up our strategy, and it has acted as a strong deterrent,” a senior customs official told TOI.D. Anil, principal commissioner of customs and CGST (Pune Zone), said the CCTV surveillance begins the moment passengers enter the terminal after landing. “CCTV coverage at the airport is vast. We closely monitor live feeds to study passenger activities. A passenger may look suave and well-dressed, but could still be carrying contraband. We evaluate body language and behavioural traits before making contact in a non-intrusive manner,” Anil said, adding that the five-month clean record reflects the success of these measures.According to department data, customs personnel busted 13 smuggling attempts last year, sending a clear warning to syndicates. Seven of those cases involved hydroponic weed, resulting in the seizure of over 27 kg of the premium narcotic. The remaining cases involved wildlife, foreign currency, and other contraband.Officials trace the current lull back to a major breakthrough in March, when customs intercepted a massive consignment of hydroponic weed concealed in an international cargo shipment from Bangkok.“It was a huge haul that dealt a severe financial blow to the traffickers, forcing them to reconsider Pune as a transit route. While we don’t claim there will be no future attempts, we are on high alert and constantly upgrading our coordination to keep the airport secure,” another official added.