Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) is gearing up to auction unclaimed cargo that has remained in the airport’s warehouses for months. The move is in compliance with the Indian Customs Act, 1962, which states that goods that remain unclaimed for a certain period can be auctioned off.
According to a notice issued by the airport authorities, an array of items including electronics, textile materials, machinery, plastic products, and automotive components will be put up for auction. In a bid to conduct the auction process responsibly and transparently, all goods will first be inspected by a committee before they are finally auctioned off.
Among the 202 items listed are a variety of household goods, health products, decorative items, and clothing. Noteworthy inclusions are acupuncture needles, a hair growth laser light device, and a range of Apple products such as earbuds, chargers, mice, keyboards, a 13-inch MacBook Air, used iPhone 11 Pro Max, used iPhone, iPhone 12 Pro Max in Graphite, iPhone 12 Pro Max in Gold, and a 16-inch Macbook Pro.
However, this is not CIAL’s first experience with auctioning unclaimed goods. Previous auctioning events have helped garner considerable revenue for the Kochi-based airport. The auction process is also beneficial as it helps in clearing out space that the unclaimed cargo was previously occupying.
Under India’s Customs Act, if the imported goods are not cleared within a 30-day period after arrival at the airport, the customs office can then dispose of them as per the law. The procedure stipulates that the owner receives a notice first, and if still unclaimed and uncleared, it can be listed for auction. This process is also followed by different major airports across the country.
Within the stipulated time, if the rightful owners come forward to claim their items, they can do so by paying the necessary duty charges and penalties. However, once the goods are auctioned, they cannot be claimed by the original owners.
As airports remain a hub of increasing commercial activities, managing unclaimed goods efficiently becomes essential. Auctioning unclaimed cargo is thus seen as an effective step in ensuring space optimization and generation of additional revenue for the airport.
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