Perishables rot as Mumbai customs officers go slow to protest bribery raids

A CUSTOMS officer go-slow to protest Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) anti-corruption raids at Air Cargo Complex in Andheri north of Mumbai has been delaying freight movement, clearing only a quarter to a half of daily throughput, and risking spoilage of perishable freight.

"Now that the officials are also not clearing cargo beyond duty hours, a lot of backlog is likely to build up. It can put a load on the cargo complex to store consignments and may cause perishable items to rot," a senior airport official said.

Investigators have found gold jewellery in the bank locker of a senior customs official after CBI raided 14 customs officers.

Customs officers associations decided to restrict clearance of air cargo facility from 10.30am to 5pm, reports the Hindustan Times. The Air Cargo Complex has an average daily traffic of 4,000 consignments.

The CBI alleges that customs officials were regularly bribed by a customs house agents, reported the Hindustan Times.

The Times of India reported that 50 per cent of air cargo consignments at crucial ports and air cargo had not been on Friday because of the go-slow.

Customs officers working at air cargo terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Nhava Sheva also have had a work-to-rule campaign. Usually, they work beyond duty hours.
(Source:www.schednet.com)