Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Feb 16: Acting swiftly on a specific intelligence, the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mangaluru apprehended a passenger at Mangaluru International Airport and seized assorted foreign currencies worth over Rs 25.82 lac from him.

The arrested passenger has been identified as Sirajuddin Pallikke Kunhali (39) from Kasargod district, Kerala, presently residing in Mangaluru.

The DRI officials apprehended him on Thursday February 15 while he was about to board the Air India Express flight IX 813 bound to Dubai after having completed all check-in and immigration formalities.

During his personal search, it was found that some foreign currency notes were concealed inside his socks. Subsequently on thorough examination of Sirajuddin's baggage, the officers found that foreign currencies were concealed inside the hollow tubular parts of the handles in rolled bundles and some more currency notes were spread under the false bottom of the said bag.

Assorted foreign currencies comprising of US Dollars, Swiss Franc, Euros and Kuwait Dinars adding upto 25,82,686 in terms of their value in Indian rupees were recovered from Sirajuddin and seized under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 read with FEMA Rules and RBI guidelines issued in this regard.

Upon Interrogation, Sirajuddin admitted the offence and stated that he committed this unscrupulous act for making some easy money. He has been arrested and produced before the principal civil judge (senior division) and chief judicial magistrate, Mangaluru.

The Directorate is hopeful of getting new breakthrough regarding unauthorized currency dealers and hawala operators in the course of further investigation, the DRI said in a press release.