A bag was found to contain 273,000 Saudi Riyals, 80,000 UAE Dirhams - both well beyond the legal limit. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan Customs foiled a bid to smuggle currency through Benazir Bhutto International Airport late on Monday by seizing different foreign currencies worth Rs9.64 million from a passenger.
According to a Customs official, his coworkers received a tip-off that a passenger named Ameer Zeb, from Totalai, Buner, travelling on a Pakistani passport, was trying to smuggle foreign currency to Dubai on a Shaheen Air flight.
While scanning Zeb’s luggage, customs staff found the money in a bag.
The bag was found to contain 273,000 Saudi Riyals (Rs7.3 million) and 80,000 UAE Dirhams (Rs2.2 million) both well beyond the legal limit.
The limits under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act is $10,000 (Rs1 million) or equivalent.
A preliminary inquiry revealed that an accomplice of the passenger, Amanullah Khan, also from Totalai, was outside the international departure area and was also taken into custody. Customs authorities also recovered documents from Khan regarding ‘hawala’ transactions.
A criminal case has been registered against both of the accused and further investigations are ongoing.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2013.
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This is happening from 1980. Every Choke yadgar money changer is involve in this Business. Few days before I want to send money to my brother studying in London. I want to change Pakistani RS in Pounds. The money changer ask me why you are exchanging. I told him I am sending it to my brother through my friend .he told me give us your brother address ,cell no ,or bank account your brother will receive your money with in 5 hours. I give the all required data and after 6 hours, My brother call me he received the money without any charges of money changer. It is routine matter and this business in happening in choke yadgar openly