A joint search operation of goods trains and Samjhauta Express by Customs along with Railways and police has been proposed to prevent smuggling of narcotics and contraband from Pakistan.
The proposal has been made by Amritsar Customs department to the Union Finance Ministry, Customs Commissioner (Amritsar) Sunil Sawhney said today.
"To prevent smuggling of contraband by concealment in the goods train and Samjhauta Express, joint rummaging of trains along with railways and police authorities has been proposed to the Ministry of Finance for approval," he said in Amritsar.
In 2013-14, the Customs department has seized about 74 kg of heroin, worth Rs 374 crore in international market, which were concealed in goods train and Samjhauta Express coming from Pakistan.
Besides, arms and ammunition including 14 pistols, 28 magazines, 56 live cartridges, were also recovered from passenger's baggage and good trains, he said, adding to check smuggling, an Air Intelligence Unit at the airport and Rail Intelligence Unit at the Attari railway station in Amritsar were set up in January this year.
"Following these measures, a total of 13.485 kg of gold worth Rs 3.91 crore were recovered at airport from passengers arriving from Dubai," he said.
Sawhney further said the department has also proposed setting up of a bank counter at Amritsar airport to facilitate passengers for conversion of foreign exchange and payment of Customs duties.
"Lack of banking facility at the international airport causes inconvenience to passengers arriving from abroad for conversion of foreign exchange and payment of Customs duties," he said, adding matter has been taken up with the Department of Financial Services in Ministry of Finance for starting a bank counter within the airport premises.
