New system at Delhi airport to track suspicious movements

An advanced electronic system has been made operational at the international airport here to keep tabs on suspicious passengers and check smuggling.

The Indian Customs Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), inaugurated today by Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) member Mala Srivastava at Indira Gandhi International Airport, acts as an electronic database of all passengers, crew and other airline staff entering the country, official sources said.

The APIS red flags suspicious passengers on the basis of their movement and other parameters and give a lead to customs officials for follow-up, they said.

It has been developed on the lines of the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System used by Customs and Border Protection officials in the US, the sources said.

It is also capable of handling information such as issuance of a red corner notice against wanted individuals and other warrants issued by the Interpol and international law and enforcement agencies, they said.

The system was being run as a pilot project at the airport and has been giving satisfactory results. Following which the authorities decided to make it formally operational from today, the sources said.

The APIS has been developed by the National Informatics Centre with the help of Directorate General of Systems under the CBEC.

"It is an advanced system which will help in facilitation of international passengers coming to the country and enforcement needs of the customs," said Sandeep Rawal, National Project Manager (APIS).

There are about 120 international flights coming to Delhi daily. The system will also be helpful in checking smuggling at the airport which has seen a spurt so far this year.