Illegal liquor sale: Airport duty-free shop shut down

Amid dramatic scenes on Thursday, Customs officers closed down the duty free shop at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport after unearthing large-scale irregularities related to the illegal sal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid dramatic scenes on Thursday, Customs officers closed down the duty free shop at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport after unearthing large-scale irregularities related to the illegal sale of imported liquor.

Officers attached to the Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Ernakulam, and the CGST and Customs unit in Thiruvananthapuram, acting on a complaint, raided the shop on Thursday morning. The staff remained non-cooperative but a physical verification of the stock had revealed large-scale evasion, according to Customs sources.

Reportedly, the irregularities are to the tune of `1.5 crore. Although rules stipulate that a sale can be made only to a bona fide passenger it was found that liquor was being sold outside multiple times using the same passports.

While the manager of the shop was being questioned, he reportedly assaulted Customs Superintendent Vivek V and ran out. According to the Customs officers, he stumbled and fell and hurt himself. But the staff of the shop protested that the Customs officers had attacked the manager and led him away. Vivek was later hospitalised.

The Customs had sought the services of Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC) to examine the computers of the duty-free shop. It is understood that the DRI is also investigating the matter.
The Customs has lodged a complaint with the police regarding the assault on its officer.

The Customs had acted on a complaint regarding the alleged illegal going-on at the duty free shop situated near the arrival lounge of the airport. The raid was taken out on Thursday after a preliminary investigation revealed the complaint to be genuine.

  • Irregularities to the tune of D1.5 crore detected
  • While the manager of the shop was being questioned, he reportedly assaulted Customs Superintendent and ran out
  • The staff remained non-cooperative but a physical verification of the stock had revealed large-scale evasion

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