Doctors detained at airport for ‘smuggling’ medical devices

Customs officials of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Friday night caught several doctors belonging to a charity group with medical devices brought from the US.

The devices had crossed their expiry dates. According to sources at the airport, the doctors belonging to a charitable organization that functions outside Ahmedabad were trying to import the medical devices which are used for cardiovascular treatment.  Sources said that the equipment were being imported illegally in handbags for commercial use.

“The people who were caught by the customs officials had come from the US. They landed here at midnight. They had with them medical equipment that had crossed its expiry date. The equipment were from the US,” said a source at airport.

Sources in the customs department said it was an outrageous effort at smuggling. Some of the people were detained for trying to bring medical devices illegally into the country.

“They were carrying some of the devices in hand bags,” said the source.  The source said several other equipment were also seized. The source also clarified that not all equipment had crossed their expiry date.

“If you bring medical devices without declaring the amount of the asset, it is an attempt at smuggling, irrespective of the fact that the purpose was bonafide. The matter is being investigated and nothing can be said at this moment. However, this is for sure that the group was deliberately trying to fool us,” said a source in the customs department. The matter is being investigated.