Delhi Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport have arrested two men who were allegedly trying to smuggle out foreign currency. The customs official have recovered around five lakh US dollar from their possession.
According to Dr Amandeep Singh, Additional Commissioner of Customs, specific inputs were received regarding two passengers would be boarding flight to Dubai and are carrying foreign currency.
“Acting on the tip off, all flights to Dubai was scanned within one hour and finally the duo was apprehended. A detailed personal and baggage search of the both resulted in the recovery of 5,07,800 US dollar equivalent to around Rs 3 crore,” said Dr Singh.
“The money was concealed in rolls of gift wrapping sheets kept in their baggage. The duo also admitted to smuggle foreign currency around Rs 50 Lakh earlier in October 2018 with same modus operandi,” Dr Singh said.
“The recovered foreign currency has been seized. Both the passengers have been arrested under the provision section 104 of customs act. Further investigation is going on,” Dr Singh added.
Delhi Customs department over last 8 months have seized a total of 16.90 crores of foreign currency. In the previous 3 months - about 5.2 crores worth was seized. This is the year’s largest seizure of foreign currency.