Passenger harassed at Surat Airport Over Customs Duty

Surat : A recent incident involving a passenger arriving at Surat International Airport from Dubai has brought attention to customs practices at the airport, sparking concerns of alleged harassment on Wednesday. The passenger, who was carrying a newly purchased iPhone for personal use, reported an unusual encounter with customs authorities at Surat airport, where he was questioned and charged customs duty under contentious circumstances.

Upon being stopped by customs officials, the passenger was initially asked to pay a hefty duty of ₹38,500, calculated at 38.5% on an assumed value of ₹1,00,000 for the iPhone. After extended discussions, the customs officials reportedly reduced the amount to ₹12,320, citing a revised valuation of ₹38,000 for the device.

The receipt issued to the passenger raised further questions, as it listed the item as “excess baggage” rather than specifying the iPhone, and reflected a customs duty of 38.5%. The receipt was printed on a red form, with the title “Surat International Airport” and “सीमा शुल्क – सूरत विमानपत्तन – Customs Surat.” Payment was made via GPay, which the passenger found unusual for such transactions. Interestingly, there was no official stamp of the Surat Customs department on the receipt given to the passenger.

This incident comes amid growing discontent on social media, with numerous travellers sharing similar experiences of what they describe as harassment by customs officials at Surat Airport. Some passengers have claimed that they were unfairly charged or faced undue scrutiny while clearing customs, particularly when bringing in personal electronics or goods.

In response to these reports, several passengers have now started opting to travel via Mumbai instead of Surat to avoid potential complications and stress at customs clearance. Despite the reduced customs fee in this particular case, the passenger expressed frustration over the entire ordeal, describing it as an unnecessary and stressful experience.

“Either the customs officers at Surat airport are compassionate toward the passengers like me or they are corrupt. I was asked to make UPI payment and the receiver was a private party and not the customs department. This has raised doubts on the intentions of the customs officers posted at the Surat international airport” the victim said. 

The rising number of complaints raises concerns about the transparency and conduct of customs procedures at Surat Airport, which may deter international travelers from using this gateway.