Is luggage scanned if you choose "Nothing to declare" in India?
What exactly happens at India customs?
This is what I found from google:
I get a paper on flight, where I choose I am going to use the green or red channel. Say I choose green, do they scan my luggage at the green channel?
And what exactly happens at the customs? I have never been through one.
Best Answer
Never done this in India, but other countries have a similar system.
If you walk through the green channel, then normally your baggage will not be searched or scanned. You just walk through and out into the public area.
So, you ask, doesn't everyone do this, whether or not they have things to declare? Because there are people watching the lane, and if they want they can stop you and search. If you are found with items to declare you will be charged with smuggling, which is criminal offence. If you are lucky you might be able to talk the punishment down to a fine, but there is a chance you could end up with a criminal record.
Also the people doing the watching are trained to spot likely smugglers, so it isn't just a random chance.
Pictures about "Is luggage scanned if you choose "Nothing to declare" in India?"
Does check-in baggage gets scanned in India?
Yes, once you check them in and they go off on the conveyor belt, your baggage will be screened by an X-Ray machine and also often with chemical sniffers. If there is any doubt or something suspicious about your bag, a member of security personnel will inspect it by hand.Does cargo luggage get scanned?
In the UK, 60% of air freight is carried in passenger planes, the rest goes on specialist cargo planes. But whilst all passenger baggage is subject to inspection by x-ray, only a small amount of air cargo is checked in the same way.Does checked luggage get searched?
The majority of checked baggage is screened without the need for a physical bag search. Inspection Notices: TSA may inspect your checked baggage during the screening process. If your property is physically inspected, TSA will place a notice of baggage inspection inside your bag.Does hand luggage get scanned?
The short answer is yes, your checked bags will go through a scanning process, much like yourself and your carry-on items.USA Visitors Returning to India
More answers regarding is luggage scanned if you choose "Nothing to declare" in India?
Answer 2
I have traveled through multiple Airports in India and abroad. Most airports scan luggage for international travelers, most of the time.
I had my luggage scanned for every time when I landed in India, except once. On contrary, Singapore airport scanned only twice out of my 20+ landings.
They don't enforce every rule though. For instance, I am only allowed one laptop when landing, but I almost always travel with two or sometimes 3. I guess they are mostly looking for liquor and drugs.
Answer 3
Kinda late answer but I didn’t declare anything in Hyderabad airport. My checked luggage was scanned but my hand luggage was not so I didn’t get in trouble for taking at least 2 phones and two laptops.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Kampus Production, Andrea Piacquadio, Flávio Santos, RODNAE Productions