Forex smuggling: Over Rs9m foreign currency seized from passenger
A bag was found to contain 273,000 Saudi Riyals, 80,000 UAE Dirhams - both well beyond the legal limit.
A bag was found to contain 273,000 Saudi Riyals, 80,000 UAE Dirhams - both well beyond the legal limit. PHOTO: FILE
RAWALPINDI:
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.
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.