Number of cases of sandalwood smuggling by airline staff rises in India

NEW DELHI, India – Increasing instances of airline staff smugglingred sandalwood out of the country have alarmed officials, who consider it a security threat. Sources say three cases of sandalwood smuggling by airline operatives have come to light in the past month-the latest one on Sunday when two crew members of Air India were caught smuggling the wood from Delhi to Hong Kong late at night.

Airport officials said the two were found carrying 52kg sandalwood-26 kg each-as they were about to board Air India flight 325. The contraband was detected while passing through the x-ray machine. “Two Air India officials have been found to be in illegal possession of red sandalwood. Due administrative action has been initiated,” said an AI spokesperson.

Sources said senior officials of the airline’s vigilance department were flown in from Mumbai early morning on Monday to investigate the matter. Once they submit a report, action will be taken against the two employees, said a senior AI official.

In another instance three days ago, a senior ground staff member of an international airline was caught trying to smuggle 420kg red sandalwood in connivance with a few passengers. The wood was packed in 16 rucksacks and was bound for the capital of a neighbouring country.

On September 16 also, a passenger and two customer service agents (CSAs) of a domestic airline were found in possession of 90kg red sandalwood while on their way from Delhi to Hong Kong. Both were fired from their jobs after a hush-hush inquiry.

“When staff connives and compromises on matters of security, our job of safeguarding the airports and other major transit places becomes even harder,” said a senior airport security official. The airport is trying to end the smuggling with the use of x-ray machines, sniffer dogs and focused intelligence gathering.