- I Paid A Bribe
- 9 years ago
- 4953 views
Bribe paid to Customs Officials at Hyderabad International Airport
- Airports
- Immigration Check
- Paid INR 2,000
I was travelling from San Francisco to Hyderabad International Airport (via layover in Dubai). The complete itineary details are given below. When I reached Hyderabad airport, the customs officials scanned through the luggage of all the passengers, and were singling out people who were carrying any items including gold jewellery or gold coins. I do not recollect the names of the officers, however, I can very well describe their modus operandi. The officer near the X-ray machine checks everyone's cabin baggage, targets the passengers carrying any gold items, and then, confiscates their passport. He asks them to collect the checked-in baggage and then report to the counter near the exit, where he passes on the passports. The officer at this counter then threatens the passengers of huge fines and offers a bargain price if the money is paid to him instead of to the official cashier who usually gives a government receipt. I guess, there are cameras that are focused onto this counter, so, he asks his colleagues to collect the bargained money in a room adjacent to the counter, where there are no cameras, and gives his colleagues the passport. The passport is given back to the passenger only after the officer is given the money in the room adjacent to the counter. I was threatened with a fine of Rs. 20,000, unless I paid them some bribe and I was forced to pay a bribe of USD $30 (approximately Rs. 2,000) to get my passport back. They demanded more, but I told them that I was low on cash and that was what I was able to give them.
My itinerary details are given below:
Departed San Francisco on 14th September 2015 at 4:45 PM by Emirates EK 226
Arrived at Dubai on 15th September 2015 at 7:25 PM
Departed Dubai on 15th September 2015 at 9:40 PM by Emirates EK 524
Arrived at Hyderabad on 16th September 2015 at 2:50 AM