---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is an open secret that customs…"
description: "\"It is an open secret that customs officers pay millions in bribes to secure the lucrative posting in the airport, cargo terminals or ports.\" — Sucheta ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/sucheta-dalal-7319_airport_it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-office_790718.jpg"
---

#  It is an open secret that customs officers pay millions in…

![“It is an open secret that customs officers pay millions in bribes to secure the lucrative posting in the airport, cargo terminals or ports.” quote by Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/sucheta-dalal-7319_airport_it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-office_790718.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/sucheta-dalal-7319_airport_it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-office_790718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/sucheta-dalal-7319_airport_it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-office_790718.jpg)

> “It is an open secret that customs officers pay millions in bribes to secure the lucrative posting in the airport, cargo terminals or ports.”

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Corruption thrives where officials profit from bribes for lucrative posts.

**In simple terms:** Bribes secure jobs.

Key Takeaway

Expose and reform.

Themes

corruption bureaucracy ethics

Mood

concerned determined

Type

investigative exposé

When to use this quote

- airport management
- customs agencies
- public procurement

Key Concepts

journalism law enforcement

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards can prevent bribery?
- How can whistleblowers be protected?

A Different Perspective

Systems enable abuse.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribes/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/)

## Related quotes

> [Increasing detection and enforcement at points of entry means hiring new Customs officers and purchasing more equipment to screen vehicles for contraband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caputo/increasing-detection-and-enforcement-at-points-of-entry-means-hiring/)

[Michael Caputo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caputo/)

> [How do you whip up resentment against absentee landlords and pocketers of bribes when the highest ambition of the people is either to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/how-do-you-whip-up-resentment-against-absentee-landlords-and/)

[John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/)

> [Death takes no bribes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-takes-no-bribes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There are two parties involved in every corrupt transaction, typically a government official and a business person. Yet those who pay bribes are often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-chalker-baroness-chalker-of-wallasey/there-are-two-parties-involved-in-every-corrupt-transaction-typically/)

Lynda Chalker, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

> [ “Outsiders became keen to join an organization \[European Community\] that offered attractive bribes to the poor. Greece did so in 1981 and Spain and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morris-roberts/outsiders-became-keen-to-join-an-organization-european-community-that/)

[John Morris Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morris-roberts/)

> [“There are only two kinds of Indians: those who take bribes and those who give them.’ Actually, there are a third and a fourth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-only-two-kinds-of-indians-those-who-take-bribes-and-those/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I and others on FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with selection of South Africa as host nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-swanson/i-and-others-on-fifa-executive-committee-agreed-to-accept-bribes-in/)

Bryan Swanson

> [Japan has a low crime rate, unless you count the fact that approximately every fifteen minutes the entire Cabinet gets indicted for taking bribes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/japan-has-a-low-crime-rate-unless-you-count-the-fact-that/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [“By reason of gifts and bribes the offices be given to rich men, which should rather have been executed by wise men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-reason-of-gifts-and-bribes-the-offices-be-given-to-rich-men-which/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [American Hustle shows the FBI making real-life bribes to Washington politicians. I know, because as your U.S. senator, I turned them down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-pressler/american-hustle-shows-the-fbi-making-real-life-bribes-to-washington/)

Larry Pressler

> [For any politician who didn't enter office a wealthy man, nothing says 'I take bribes' like a Rolex watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/for-any-politician-who-didn-t-enter-office-a-wealthy-man-nothing-says/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [“Where do you think the money went?” he repeated. “Guns?” asked Jesper. “Ships?” queried Inej. “Bombs?” suggested Wylan. “Political bribes?” offered Nina. They all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/where-do-you-think-the-money-went-he-repeated-guns-asked-jesper-ships/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“Numbers of men are getting richer and greater numbers are getting poorer. Alas, both classes have higher expectations these days. In Short, sir, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/numbers-of-men-are-getting-richer-and-greater-numbers-are-getting/)

[Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/)

> [If people are stealing the resources of this nation, if people are taking bribes - if judges or persons in authority, whether they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/if-people-are-stealing-the-resources-of-this-nation-if-people-are/)

[Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/)

> [I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-usually-accept-bribes-from-both-sides-so-that-tainted-money-can/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

## More by Sucheta Dalal

> [The message for the smart investor is to watch out. Do not get carried away with news reports and turn smart by pooling information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/the-message-for-the-smart-investor-is-to-watch-out-do-not-get-carried/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [We are living in a globalised world and most of us are worried stiff about powerful interest groups steadily pushing India towards obscurantist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/we-are-living-in-a-globalised-world-and-most-of-us-are-worried-stiff/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [We like to joke that India has sick companies but rich promoters. Yet, even after the bad loans and non-payment of dues have turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/we-like-to-joke-that-india-has-sick-companies-but-rich-promoters-yet/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [I have missed meetings because a Speed Post from a government office reached after the meeting. But these are rare blips in a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/i-have-missed-meetings-because-a-speed-post-from-a-government-office/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [The paper's self-confessed love affair is with the advertiser and its flourishing bottomline gives it the power to desecrate editorial space and express the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/the-paper-s-self-confessed-love-affair-is-with-the-advertiser-and-its/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [Motherhood, pester power and emotional blackmail - Indian marketers have cottoned on to the fact that these three themes can sell just about anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/motherhood-pester-power-and-emotional-blackmail-indian-marketers-have/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [In the e-filing system, the accountant has the user identity and password of each company. This would potentially allow a rogue accountant to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/in-the-e-filing-system-the-accountant-has-the-user-identity-and/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [Entrepreneurial freedom and funding of potentially good businesses will certainly increase the number of wealthy Indians, create employment and have some cascading effect in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/entrepreneurial-freedom-and-funding-of-potentially-good-businesses/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [If India is notorious for never punishing scamsters and letting politicians get away with loot, rape, murder and worse, it is because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/if-india-is-notorious-for-never-punishing-scamsters-and-letting/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [If you are a small investor, do take the basic precaution of going to a registered broker/sub-broker and getting receipts for your transactions. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/if-you-are-a-small-investor-do-take-the-basic-precaution-of-going-to/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [For Indias 40 million taxpayers, the bulk of whom are salaried employees, forking out hefty service tax is a double whammy the government taxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/for-indias-40-million-taxpayers-the-bulk-of-whom-are-salaried/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [Putting an end to usurious rates is not going to be as simple as asking banks to lay down internal guidelines, policies and procedures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/putting-an-end-to-usurious-rates-is-not-going-to-be-as-simple-as/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [Mobile users happily suffer bad connections, dropped calls, inaccessible networks and pay higher charges for services that would have caused endless annoyance on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/mobile-users-happily-suffer-bad-connections-dropped-calls/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [The truth is that very few newspapers in the country are willing to do a fair and impartial investigation into the shenanigans of industrialists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/the-truth-is-that-very-few-newspapers-in-the-country-are-willing-to/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

> [Netizens and site operators must find ways to police themselves in order to keep government interference to a minimum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/netizens-and-site-operators-must-find-ways-to-police-themselves-in/)

[Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

[Explore all 92 Sucheta Dalal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/)

## More Airport quotes

> [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/)

[Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/)

> [My flights delayed and I found a pube in my sushi. Good times at the airport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/my-flights-delayed-and-i-found-a-pube-in-my-sushi-good-times-at-the/)

[Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/)

> [“All this waiting. Waiting for the rain to stop. Waiting in traffic. Waiting for the bill. Waiting at the airport for an old friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/all-this-waiting-waiting-for-the-rain-to-stop-waiting-in-traffic/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [If I never saw another airport again, I'd be happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emm-gryner/if-i-never-saw-another-airport-again-i-d-be-happy/)

[Emm Gryner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emm-gryner/)

> [In the U.S., the term 'general aviation' means its exact opposite, the way 'public school' does in England. An English public school is private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/in-the-u-s-the-term-general-aviation-means-its-exact-opposite-the-way/)

[Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/)

> [You never know what's going to happen en route to the airport or station and the last thing you want is to get there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-en-route-to-the-airport-or/)

[Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/)

> [Imagine if every airport would blast Brian Eno. I bet going through security wouldn't be as difficult. I can't imagine someone being aggressive with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/imagine-if-every-airport-would-blast-brian-eno-i-bet-going-through/)

[Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/)

> [Seattle is a place I've lived only a couple of years, but I feel like I've been adopted by this city. It's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/seattle-is-a-place-i-ve-lived-only-a-couple-of-years-but-i-feel-like/)

[Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/)

> [I've always been very good at convincing people. For instance, if I arrive in an airport and I'm in economy, I can always convince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-seigner/i-ve-always-been-very-good-at-convincing-people-for-instance-if-i/)

[Emmanuelle Seigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-seigner/)

> [Hector Lombard kicked me 32 times in that fight. No issues. I walked through the airport the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/hector-lombard-kicked-me-32-times-in-that-fight-no-issues-i-walked/)

[Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/)

> [Just got back from a pleasure trip: I took my mother-in-law to the airport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/just-got-back-from-a-pleasure-trip-i-took-my-mother-in-law-to-the/)

[Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/)

> [Never fly to the U.S. the day before Thanksgiving or the weekend after because every airport is guaranteed to be crammed to bursting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/never-fly-to-the-u-s-the-day-before-thanksgiving-or-the-weekend-after/)

[Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/)

> [I fell in love with Rwanda the moment I saw those verdant, rolling hills rise up beneath the wings of the plane as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-benaron/i-fell-in-love-with-rwanda-the-moment-i-saw-those-verdant-rolling/)

[Naomi Benaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-benaron/)

> [I love steakhouses. When I'm in Chicago, I know there's a Gibsons that's open late. 13 Coins at Sea-Tac Airport in Washington is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/triple-h/i-love-steakhouses-when-i-m-in-chicago-i-know-there-s-a-gibsons-that/)

[Triple H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/triple-h/)

> [Its 6 AM and Im at the airport. I know youve been here, I can feel you everywhere. Its in the air, the sudden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-riccitello/its-6-am-and-im-at-the-airport-i-know-youve-been-here-i-can-feel-you/)

[Dominic Riccitello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-riccitello/)

Browse all 273 Airport quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is an open secret that customs officers pay millions in bribes to secure the lucrative posting in the airport, cargo terminals or ports.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sucheta Dalal"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-officers-pay-millions-in-bribes-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Airport"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-officers-pay-millions-in-bribes-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/sucheta-dalal-7319_airport_it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-office_790718.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/sucheta-dalal-7319_airport_it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-office_790718.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/sucheta-dalal-7319_airport_it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-office_790718.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is an open secret that customs officers pay millions in bribes to secure the lucrative posting in the…” — Sucheta Dalal",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sucheta Dalal",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is an open secret that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-officers-pay-millions-in-bribes-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/it-is-an-open-secret-that-customs-officers-pay-millions-in-bribes-to/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
