Thiruvananthapuram : The state protocol officer’s report raises questions on the conduct of customs on 5 of June, when smuggled gold arrived contained in diplomatic baggage.
The rule since 2018 mandates that the state protocol officer be notified as soon as a diplomatic baggage hits the airport and due consent be secured before unloading the same. No such intimation or consent was seen in case of the contraband seized on 5 June - an indication there existed some kind of cooperation on part of customs officials or powerful influence on side of Swapna and gang - both the likelihoods of which are now being scrutinised by investigators in their ongoing probe.
The Customs Manual requires that the application to accept any baggage including diplomatic, bear counter sign and seal of the Protocol Officer. No baggage outside such consent is allowed to enter luggage/cargo breakup area. The report also submitted copies of more than 10 specimen signatures provided by Customs as belonging to UAE natives staffed with the Consulate and investigators will look to see if they were forged.
Incidentally, the Customs wrote to the Protocol Officer seeking records on the dubious diplomatic baggage of June 5 and the current Protocol Officer's Report is in response thereof. The State Protocol Officer will also submit a copy of the report to NIA on Wednesday. NIA had earlier sought copies of all diplomatic signatures recorded at the airport since 2016.
