DRI seizes foreign currency worth Rs 1.56 crore at RGIA

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized foreign currency worth approximately Rs 1.56 crore from two Indian passengers bound for Kuala Lumpur at Hyderabad airport. Both passengers were arrested after failing to produce documents establishing the lawful procurement and carriage of the currency.

Hyderabad: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized foreign currency worth approximately Rs 1.56 crore from two Indian passengers bound for Kuala Lumpur at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Thursday.

Acting on specific information, the DRI Hyderabad zonal unit intercepted a male passenger scheduled to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on an AirAsia flight.

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“A search of his cabin baggage led to the recovery of USD 66,600, Malaysian ringgit 3,773 and Singapore dollars 2, collectively valued at approximately Rs 63.62 lakh. The currency was concealed inside a black plastic cover placed among clothes in his trolley bag,” officials said.

During preliminary questioning, the passenger disclosed that a woman was also travelling on the same flight under a different passenger name record (PNR). The DRI officials mounted surveillance and intercepted the woman.

A search of her cabin baggage resulted in the recovery of USD 97,600, valued at approximately Rs 91.94 lakh. The currency was concealed in a similar manner inside her trolley bag.

Both passengers failed to produce documents to establish the lawful procurement and carriage of the foreign currency.

The DRI seized the entire foreign currency, valued at approximately Rs 1.56 crore, along with the trolley bags used to conceal it, under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Both passengers were arrested, officials added.

Further investigation is under way to establish the source of the currency and the purpose for which it was being transported.