KOCHI: Nine customs officials, including two superintendents, have been dismissed from service for accepting huge bribes and facilitating gold smuggling at the Karipur airport. The action was taken against officials caught in the investigation conducted by the Customs Preventive Commissionerate and CBI.

The order was issued by the Customs Preventive Commissioner dismissing Karipur Airport Superintendents S Asha and Ganapati Potti, Inspectors Yasser Arafat, Yogesh, Naresh Gulia, V Minimol, and Head Havildars Ashokan, Francis, and Sudhir Kumar. This is the first time that so many customs officials have been dismissed together. Superintendent KM Jose, who was subject to disciplinary proceedings, had retired from service. Two increments of Superintendent Satyendra Singh were canceled. The CBI had found that some officers were helping to deliver the smuggled gold outside the airport.

In January 2021, the CBI was tipped off about the collusion of the officials during a raid conducted in conjunction with Revenue Intelligence. Then the customs preventive department conducted an investigation. Customs officials said the process was completed only after the initial suspension, along with a notice of termination.