Two passengers caught smuggling foreign currencies worth Rs 38 lakhs at Pune airport
Pune, March 9, 2020: Officers of the customs at the Pune international airport have seized foreign currency totalling to Rs 38,79,575 from two passengers who were intending to fly to Dubai by the SpiceJet flight SG51 on 08.03.2020.
As per press release issued by Joint Commissioner Vaishali Patange, the confiscated foreign currency was recovered during physical search and search of check-in luggage carried by passengers Feroze Abdul Hamid Ansari, age 43 years, resident of Guruwar Peth, Pune and Shaikh Mohammad Tarique Iqbal Ahmad, age 33 years, resident of Kasba Peth, Pune. The currency was concealed by way of stitching in to the waist of the trousers. The currency was recovered by slitting open the stichings and linnings. It consisted of Pound, Qatar Riyal and Saudi Riyal. The said currency has been seized by the customs officers under reasonable belief that it was being smuggled out of India.
The entire seizure operation was carried out owing to vigilant monitoring and checking by team of customs officers under the able guidance of Dr Motilal Shete, deputy commissioner of customs.
Further investigation as per customs act 1962 is under progress. passengers are appealed to repoirt to customs of any suspicious persons and baggage at pune international airport as it is a service to the nation.
