Customs at Calicut Airport

Calicut airport must be having the worst customs team in Kerala. The customs department is shameless in asking for bribe. I had this experience long time back and recently somebody told me about there experience as well.

About 3-4 years back I happened to land at Calicut airport. After collecting the baggage, I was heading to the exit door and then found a customs officer in my way asking the details of the baggage. I have explained the contents, which are nothing but my clothes and a laptop. Since I was coming back for good after a short stay in Kuwait, I did not buy any stuff.

Immediately the customs officer said, you will have to pay us some money or other wise will require to check your baggage. You will have to open all the stuff here now. I said please do an X-ray so that they will know if there is anything you suspect. Then he started threatening me saying that we can see some metal stuff in the baggage etc... and we will need to examine it by opening the baggage. Otherwise give us something in foreign exchange so that you can leave the place immediately. 

Since I had to go to Kochi, I have agreed to pay him 5 KD and said this is the only foreign exchange I have as I have left Kuwait for good. He immediately grabbed the money and allowed us to go.

Though 5 KD was not a big amount, it was a big insult.