In recent months, Mumbai Airport has witnessed an increase in prohibited items in checked luggage. Among the confiscated items, e-cigarettes have emerged as the most commonly seized object. Over a span of five months, approximately 41,300 illegal items have been successfully removed from checked bags.
The rise in the number of forbidden items discovered in checked luggage is cause for alarm. In December 2022, the percentage of prohibited items found was 0.31%, but by May, it had surged to 0.73%.
During the months under review, the security personnel at Mumbai Airport inspected check-in bags. In December, around 16.1 lakh bags were screened, and this figure slightly increased to 16.3 lakh bags in May.
E-cigarettes have been the most confiscated items. Other confiscated items from checked bags include power banks and lighters.
Dry coconuts have also been confiscated in large amounts. It is worth noting that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) added dry coconuts to the restricted list in March of the previous year. This regulation seems to have gone unnoticed by many passengers. Dry coconuts are prohibited in both checked and cabin luggage due to their flammability. Fresh coconuts, on the other hand, do not pose the same risk and are allowed.
The month of May witnessed the highest recorded number of confiscated items at Mumbai Airport. Security personnel removed 943 dry coconuts and a total of 12,045 prohibited items from checked bags.
When a bag containing a prohibited item is identified, the passenger is contacted and requested to be present during the bag inspection. This can either be done in person or through video communication. If the passenger has already boarded a connecting flight, the airline representative is notified to be present during the bag inspection. In most cases, the traveller arrives at their destination while their checked bag is sent on a later flight, ensuring minimal disruption to their travel plans.
Prohibited items such as dry coconuts, e-cigarettes, thermometers, and electronics with large lithium batteries may appear harmless, but they can pose significant safety risks if mishandled or stored incorrectly. It is crucial for passengers to understand the potential dangers associated with these items.
Share
Tweet
