The air intelligence unit (AIU) of the commissioner of customs and central excise has seized assorted foreign currencies of different countries worth ` 25.60 lakh from a Keralite passenger at Dabolim airport on Wednesday. Anwar Rahiman from Kasargode district in Kerala was arrested while he was boarding an Air Arabia flight to Dubai. The currencies seized from the man included US dollars, dirham’s and Qatari riyals valued at Rs 25.6 lakh, according to Wednesday’s foreign exchange rates.
[su_expand more_text=”READ MORE” less_text=” ” height=”0″ hide_less=”yes” link_style=”button” link_align=”center”]As per available information from sources in the AIU attached to Dabolim airport, they intercepted a passenger while routine check up at around 4 is who was supposed to board the Sharjah-bound Goa Air Arabia flight G9 493. The AIU sleuths found something fishy in the behavior of the passenger but failed to detect anything.
According to the sources, however, when the AIU sleuths checked the hand baggage, they found assorted foreign currencies of different countries like Saudi and Qatar Riyals, Dirhams and US Dollars which amounted to ` 25.60 lakh.
The purpose of carrying a huge amount of foreign currencies was not known. The customs have arrested the passenger under Section 104 and have seized the foreign currencies under Section 110 of Customs Act. The passenger was released on bail later in the evening.
Further investigation is being conducted by assistant commissioner of AIU customs Gaurav Jain under the supervision of the commissioner of customs and central excise Goa K Anpazhakan.
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