I travelled back from Bombay to the U.S. in October, 2001.
At Sahar Airport my hand bag was checked by Indian customs officers before boarding the plane.
I had a small package of spices. The officer who opened my bag found the spices, asked his partner in Marathi if he should confiscate it and he said "yes." The pkg was removed and I was issued a receipt which said it would be handed back to me when I landed in Michigan.
I checked with the customs officers on arrival and there was no pkg. The officials in Michigan promised they would check with the Sahar Airport officials. They called and sent faxes without any results until I was fed up and gave up after about six months. Who took the spices and other articles that were confiscated from passengers? I remember clearly one of the items was a coconut which was probably used in a religious ceremony because it had a red marking on it.
I know of customs officials in Bombay who have bought big apartments and registered them in their wives names. They have started small businesses as well. Who knows what they have in their home towns.
It's really frustrating and humiliating when they treat you like criminals.
Florina
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet] Re: Corruption in the Customs - Goa. Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 20:43:33 EDT
In a message dated 5/28/03 6:55:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time, EdgarStmartins writes:
<<
As a young man, I often travelled by ship to Bombay from Africa. I also
travelled from Goa to Bombay overland through Londa and Castle Rock. I have
always been curious and had observed the ease with which one entered Goa and
Africa from Bombay without much harassment from the Customs authorities and
without having to bribe the Goan or African Customs authorities.
This goodwill shown to travellers leaving India is not reciprocated by
Indian authorities. I can imagine the 'fight to death' attitude of Indians
trying to succeed monetarily, to get a position in the Indian Customs, They,
most probably amass wealth and live in palaces having been born in mud houses.
Ha! Nothing but parasites preying on their own kind who would sell their mothers
and sisters for the proverbial thirty pieces. I even feel that Judas was more
honourable as he felt guilty and threw the money back at those who bribed him.
I know of a handicapped person in my village needing a wheelchair. He
moves around in a rusty wheelchair and I am sure that he would appreciate a
better one. I know of hospitals that need beds and equipment. It is true that
India manufactures these items (some of which lack quality) and has laws to
protect industry. I know of schools that need books, computers, software and many
poor Indians who would appreciate clothes. But the problems of sending these
from abroad are insurmountable. The hawks in the Customs will not allow
anything to pass their departments unless their hands are heavily greased. India is
a seething,corrupt and nefarious hinterland where religion, nationalism and
moral valuesare openly bartered for personal gain.
I had sent quite a few books to Goa a few years ago. The Goans here
had sent medicines, clothes and other things in a container. Hurdles erected by
greedy customs led Caritas to refuse gifts from outside India.
Two years ago, I took an old CPU in my baggage which being electronic was
easily detected and the hawk at the Sahar Airport demanded Rs.8000.00 as a
bribe to allow me to get through.
I wish that the Government of India would as a gesture of goodwill to
the NRI's allow gifts to charitable institutions without custom duties. We
should not beg for anything only when there is a calamity like an earthquake (as
in Algeria) or flooding (as in Sri Lanka) or even famine as in Ethiopia. I
know the reasons for this callous behaviour but disagree with the hardships meted
out to people who deserve respect and consideration.
Edgar Martins
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