The theft, which took place between March 19 and 22, is the fifth in a year and was pulled off despite the three-tier security ring around the airport. However, an intelligence agency which conducted a survey on the airport recently, say the heist is not surprising considering that the security cover is more porous than a sieve. The agency has in fact identified a stunning 38 weak spots at the country's busiest airports.

The Sahar police and Crime Branch investigating the theft are still clueless about the disappearance of 200 Seagate hard disk drives ST36422 A imported from Singapore (airway bill No 081-53654462 and house bill No 04485034 dated March 11, 1999) and which landed in Mumbai on March 12. The discs, which measure 51cm X 30 cm X 26 cm,were stored in 10 large packets weighing 131 kg. Following their arrival from Singapore on a Qantas Airways flight (No 123), the goods were shifted to Air-India's warehouse strongroom at the `G' counter and registered vide a log entry, 12 DT.

The Mumbai Customs ran a check on March 19 (form no 50) and the Nariman Point-based consignee paid Rs 2.5 lakh as import duty. After that, like the earlier four consignments, they simply vanished without a trace. Vide a letter (MMAC /CPX/139-99) dated March 22, Air-India Assistant Manager (Goods Handling) S A Shivalkar declared that the goods are ``not traceable''. A special team has been assigned for the purpose, the letter states.

Airport sources say the earlier thefts had also targeted computer hardware and other related equipment, which were stored in warehouses at the airport. The last consignment in fact went missing only two months ago. Just how the thieves managed to smuggle out the items on this occasion is still not clear, but police say it appears theymanaged to secure the keys to the strongroom, which is guarded by a lone watchman hired by Air-India.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Param Bir Singh told Express Newsline that he suspects all the thefts to be the handiwork of the same gang, which sells the computer hardware in the grey market. However, intelligence agencies fear that the gang is also involved in smuggling drugs and gold through the porus airport boundary walls.

Instead of keeping thieves out, the wall is in fact a great help to anyone with shifty hands. For instance, there are large gaps in the structure at the Kalina-Kurla, Bail Bazaar and Safeed Pool ends which can easily allow even large trucks to slip through. At the Kalina end, a dealer recycling spent oil has not only encroached on airport land, but the oil dump abuts the airport wall, barely 50 meters from where aircraft are parked.