India's DRI raid slowed by security protocol

INDIAN intelligence agency, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has foiled an attempt to smuggle a consignment from Germany of the metal rhodium valued over twice that of gold, despite security bureaucracy delaying their entry at Mumbia's Sahar air cargo complex.

Ongoing delays of renewing passes since June by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) led the DRI team to request entry via the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) ahead of a tip-off that a key player of the smuggling team was arriving at the airport.

"A number of operations have been spoiled due to the delay in intercepting the contraband because of shortage of valid entry passes. It is very unfortunate that every time we carry out an operation, we have to ask for daily passes," said a DRI official of a previous request for 90 personnel passes sent to Delhi and referred back to Mumbai where it stalled.

"Ours is both an intelligence and investigation agency and we need to frequently enter the air cargo and complex and the airport for our operations. There is a lot of secrecy involved and it is not possible to identify ourselves and get passes made every time we have to enter these areas," added the senior official cited a report from Times of India.

According to BCAS deputy commissioner S P Singh the issue of a large number of passes is being addressed by the Delhi office. "DRI officials said they are now contemplating taking up the issue with the union finance ministry or the ministry of home affairs."
(source:www.schednet.com)