Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Feb 3: Acting swiftly on specific information, the officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mangaluru intercepted a Dubai-bound passenger and seized foreign currencies worth over Rs 35 lac from him.

The passenger, identified as Abdur Rub (21), a native of Bhatkal was arrested at around 10.30 pm on Thursday February 2 when he was about to board the Jet Airways flight 9w532 to Dubai, stated press release from the DRI here on Friday February 3.

When Abdur was about to proceed towards the emigration counter after completing his check-in formalities to board Jet Airways flight, the officers stopped him and on thorough examination of his checked-in and the hand baggage, the officers found that bundles of foreign currency were deftly concealed inside tea packets and other confectionery packets.

Assorted foreign currency comprising of US dollars, Saudi riyals, UAE dirham and Australian dollars adding up to Rs 35,02,900 in terms of their value in Indian rupee, were recovered from Abdur Rub and seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 read with FEMA Rules and RBI guidelines issued in this regard.

Upon interrogation, Abdur Rub admitted the offence and stated that he had purchased the said foreign currency from some underground operators in Bhatkal and was carrying it to Dubai for making payments/investments in connection with the garment business being run by his family members and relatives over there.

This is the second case of seizure of foreign currency from a Bhatkal-based operative within one month. On January 5, the Directorate had seized foreign currency amounting to about 25 lac from Mohammed Farooque Armar at the Mangalore International Airport.

Further investigation in the matter is under progress to reach the kingpin of underground hawala business.