Had to pay a 100 rupee bribe the other day to get my completely OK
baggage cleared through customs in India.  Was wondering how this
compares to what the guy might have earned that day from his legal
activities....!!!

Dear chapeaux-ga,

I have found the pay scales for customs officers at Chennai (Madras)
airport. You did not say which airport you came through, but I would
imagine that the rates are much the same across India.

You will be pleased to read that their Preventive Officers are
?variously described as the country?s Ambassador of Goodwill and
sentinel who guard the country?s economic frontiers?. I?m sure you
will have another description for the customs officer you came across.

A preventive officer earns 6500 per annum rising in increments of 200 to 10500.

Source - pay scales.
http://www.chennaicustoms.org/NOTE/pn2004/righttoinform/monthrevcadre.htm

?The customs Preventive Officer who is the third official a
traveler/tourist upon arrival in India would meet ? after the health
and immigration officials ? is the proper officer for collection of
customs duty on baggage and can be identified by his white uniform,
shoulder epaulettes with three faceted lion insignia in the center and
twin stripes and white peak cap with customs logo in front. The
Preventive Officer is variously described as the country?s Ambassador
of Goodwill and sentinel who guard the country?s economic frontiers?
http://www.chennaicustoms.org/preven/prev.htm##rum


I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder


Successful search strategy.
"Collector" Customs "salary" India
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&as_qdr=all&q=%22Collector%22+Customs+%22salary%22+india&btnG=Search&meta=

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Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 15 Apr 2006 08:56 PDT

One of the links hasn't formatted properly. Try this,
http://www.chennaicustoms.org/preven/prev.htm

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Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 16 Apr 2006 00:54 PDT

Sorry, I have incorrectly stated that the pay scale I referred you to
was per annum. It is in fact per month.
A preventive officer earns 6500 per month rising in increments of 200 to 10500.

Once again, my apologies.
answerfinder-ga

Thanks for the reply.  So as he had four other people's bags down the
dark corridor where money exchanged hands, he must have been angling
for at least an extra day's salary!  Cheers