2 caught with Rs 26.64L foreign currency at city airport

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has booked two Sudanese nationals at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Friday for collectively carrying undeclared foreign currency worth Rs 26.64 lakh.

At around 9.20am, a CISF sub-inspector noticed something suspicious in the scan images of two bags during the pre-embarkation security check. “The bags were then selected for a thorough search. On physical checking of the bags in the presence of the passengers, 35,000 USD worth approximately Rs 24.64 lakh was discovered. Both the passengers were travelling from Mumbai to Addis Ababa,” said a CISF officer.

The first passenger identified as Maha Osman Gali Mohammad, was carrying $15,000 while the second passenger, Mona Adam Mohammad Zain was carrying $20,000. They were unable to produce any valid document for possessing foreign currency. Subsequently, customs officials were informed of the matter.

This is the second recent case in which a foreign national has been caught with undeclared currency. On May 13, a Tanzanian woman was booked for carrying undeclared foreign currency worth Rs10.05 lakh. At around 3.45 am, the woman, identified as Nassib Sabihaabdi, was frisked during the pre- embarkation security check and CISF detected USD 8,130 concealed under her clothes.

Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) sources revealed that in most cases, foreign currency is taken to purchase gold which is then smuggled back into the country. Taking advantage of the summer rush, smugglers are trying to sneak in gold or smuggle out currency.

First Published: May 20, 2019 04:41 IST