New Delhi [India]: Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) have apprehended a 26-year-old male passenger from Uttar Pradesh for attempting to smuggle foreign currency. The individual was scheduled to fly from Terminal 2 to Hyderabad on flight 6E-2768 and then to Ras Al Khaimah on flight 6E-1495, both on Saturday.
Acting on intelligence inputs, customs officers intercepted the passenger and conducted a thorough examination of his baggage. They discovered foreign currency concealed in a black trolley bag, which included:
- USD 20,000
- Saudi Riyal 5,25,500
- Qatari Riyal 1,000
The seized currency, valued at ₹1,35,01,150, was confiscated under Section 110 of the Customs Act of 1962 for attempted smuggling, in violation of Section 113 of the same act, and in conjunction with the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. The passenger has been arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act, and investigations are ongoing.
In a related incident last month, customs officials intercepted a 44-year-old female passenger at IGI Airport for smuggling gold worth ₹50 lakh. The woman, arriving on an Air India flight from Kathmandu, had concealed the gold in her rectum.
On the same day, another smuggling attempt was foiled when a male passenger arriving from Riyadh on flight AL-926 was caught with two gold bars weighing approximately 300 grams (worth ₹22.2 lakh). The gold was ingeniously hidden inside an electrical adaptor, revealed during an X-ray scan.
Customs officials at IGI Airport continue their vigilant efforts to combat smuggling activities, ensuring strict enforcement of regulations and safeguarding national economic interests.