Johannesburg, July 27 - Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty has claimed that costumes for a film he is currently shooting in Durban were stolen and hinted that it could be an organised crime in connivance with airport luggage handlers -- an allegation that has perturbed the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA).

Shetty told the Sunday Times Extra that although it was the second time he had been robbed in South Africa, he remained unruffled and would return because he loved the country so much.

But he also told the weekly: 'I think this happens because (airport luggage handlers) can see what's in the luggage. The locks, I believe were clipped open within 10 minutes, which means it is organised.'

This statement, especially the insinuation of organised crime, has upset airport authorities, who have launched concerted efforts to wipe out incidents of luggage being tampered with ahead of the expected influx of tourists for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted across South Africa next year.

ACSA staff said the Bollywood star would have to substantiate his allegation, especially since he should have reported it to the airline and police at the airport.

'If he had reported it to the airline, they would have already been asking questions,' ACSA spokesman Colin Naidoo told the weekly, adding that luggage was scanned by an automatic machine and was not seen by people before moving through a conveyor belt.