mangalore today

Man arrested with foreign currency worth Rs 25 lakh at airport


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 5,2017:  Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials at Mangaluru international airport  arrested a passenger along with foreign currency equivalent to Rs 25 lakh while he was departing for Dubai from city on early Thursday, Jan 5th. The accused is Mohammed Farooque Armar (51), a native of Bhatkal.


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Acting swiftly on specific intelligence, DRI officers arrested Mohammed Farooque while he was waiting to board the SpiceJet flight SG59 bound to Dubai after having completed all check-in and immigration formalities.

On thorough examination of Mohammed Farooque’s baggage, the officers found that bundles of foreign currencies were deftly concealed inside biscuit and confectionery packets. Assorted foreign currencies comprising US dollars, British pound, euros, UAE dirhams, Saudi riyals and Qatari riyals, totalling 25,07,162 in Indian rupee value were recovered from Farooque. The currencies were seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 read with FEMA rules and RBI guidelines issued in this regard.

Upon interrogation, Mohammed Farooque admitted the offence and stated that in the past also he had been a carrier of smuggled mobile phones and confectioneries into India from the Gulf countries and it was out of the proceeds of these smuggled goods that he was able to purchase the huge quantity of foreign currencies from various underground operators in Bhatkal, whose whereabouts and activities are being keenly investigated by the DRI now.

In a press release, the DRI states that it was hopeful of getting new breakthrough regarding unauthorised currency dealers and hawala operators in the course of further investigation.