AHMEDABAD: The corrupt customs officials had set up an unofficial single-window clearance system. They even had a regular bribe rate card. The exporters and importers paid hefty money to them to save crores of rupees in customs duty, which would be due in case the items and value were reported correctly. This is the story that has emerged from the CBI investigations into the multi-crore bribery racket that links customs officials, exporters, importers and custom house agents in Gujarat. The elan with which the seven customs officials managed their unholy nexus to get bribe from custom house agents and traders has surprised CBI officials. Around 30 premises, including residences of 11 customs officials and offices of Mumbai-based custom house agent (CHA) Khimji Poonja Freight Forwarder Pvt Ltd were surveyed by CBI on Tuesday. CBI later filed graft complaints against seven officials and three employees of CHA. “They worked as a team whose captain was changed every month. The process helped the custom agents, who had to deal with just one officer irrespective of the nature of favour required. So be it Mundra port or Ahmedabad ICD or Surat, the captain got the illicit work done in seconds using the network of tainted officials at all the key locations,” said a CBI official. The professionally-managed corruption network has pointed fingers towards senior customs officials in Gujarat, who are believed to be providing cover to this unholy nexus. “The amount to be paid as bribe for a particular job was known to custom house agents and the team’s captain use to receive it through his men and later disburse it to others. The confidence with which this ra-cket operated suggests involvement of senior customs officials. The picture would only get clear during further investigations,” the official added. Sources also said that CBI has found several documents suggesting the illicit role of more than 10 other custom house agents operating in Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat and Mundra.