INDIA's Gujarat State Export Corporation (GSEC), which manages operations for the customs department at Ahmedabad airport's cargo facility, plans to introduce biometric security checks for visitors and those working at the complex, to double the number of security guards, and equip the campus with an additional five CCTV cameras.

    The tightening of security comes in response to an INR20.2 million (US$450,000) gold theft at the airport's air freight facility earlier this month, reports the Times of India, which said the incident has shocked security agencies after exposing weaknesses in the current level of security at the air cargo facility.

    The report said a 10 kilogramme gold parcel went missing from a consignment of 200 kilogrammes of gold stored at the air cargo complex. MMTC Limited had imported the gold parcels from Singapore. The gold is believed to have been stolen minutes after the customs duty was paid and the consignment was ready for delivery.

    "We have placed an order with a private firm for the biometric system. The security guards at the air cargo complex have been doubled from the present strength and five more CCTV cameras, including two in strong room, have been installed," GSEC's Rakesh Shah said.

    "The parcel vanished from the facility and all fingers are pointed at the employees at cargo complex because the theft could not have taken place without help from an insider. We have questioned more than 20 officials under suspicion, from senior managers to end-process handlers," said a crime branch official.

(Source:http://www.schednet.com)