Mangaluru: Man, two women held for smuggling foreign currency worth Rs 80 lakh at airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 2, 2026: Foreign currency valued at around ₹80 lakh was seized at the international airport in Bajpe while being illegally smuggled out of the country. A man and two women from Kerala have been arrested in connection with the case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mangaluru unit, said.

On February 27, the trio had arrived at the airport’s departure hall to board a flight to Abu Dhabi. Acting on specific intelligence, officials of the DRI Mangaluru Regional Unit intercepted them and conducted a search.

During the inspection, the accused were found to have cleverly concealed the foreign currency in their hand luggage and check-in baggage. The seized currency included US dollars, a small quantity of Pound Sterling, Saudi Riyals, and UAE Dirhams.

The three accused have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, and were remanded to judicial custody by a court. DRI officials said efforts are underway to trace other members of the network and the financiers behind the operation.