Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) has come under the radar of customs and other security agencies because of gold and drug smuggling activities.
As a result of being included in the ‘hypersensitive category’ by the Bureau of Civil Aviation and Security (BCAS), full-body scanners will be installed at Ahmedabad Airport soon. The measure is aimed to help nab smugglers, according to BCAS sources.
In the first phase, full-body scanners will be installed at four airports, which include Bengaluru, Delhi and two other airports. A meeting was held by BCAS officials recently with all the airport operators of the country. Full-body scanner installation and trial run was part of the discussions.
CISF personnel
At Ahmedabad Airport, the number of personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has increased from 700 to 1,600 in the last three years.
Customs officials said cases of gold and drug smuggling have increased at Ahmedabad Airport in recent times. The focus was on dismantling the networks behind these operations. Smugglers are concealing contraband in body cavities or stitched into undergarments. Some use secret compartments within their luggage. Full-body scanners can swiftly detect hidden items like gold biscuits or weapons, streamlining the security process significantly, the sources added.
These full-body scanners employ millimetre-wave technology to detect objects concealed on a person’s body. According to BCAS, the decision to upgrade security measures comes amid rising passenger numbers and increased VVIP movements at Ahmedabad Airport.
Also Read: Beyond Smriti Irani And KL Sharma, Amethi Looks At Bigger Picture
