Officials from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detained a traveller at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Sunday and seized foreign currency notes worth Rs 64 lakh from his hands, according to officials.
According to CISF, the foreign currencies (Euros and New Zealand Dollars) were hidden inside the handle of a trolley bag. On Saturday, CISF surveillance and intelligence staff noticed suspicious activities of a passenger later identified as Surinder Singh Rihal, at the check-in area near ‘K’ row, who was supposed to travel to Bangkok by Thai Airlines Flight,” officials said in a statement.
According to the statement, during a random examination of his luggage, suspicious photographs of monetary hiding in ‘the trolley handles’ were discovered. The departing Customs officers were informed, and the person was allowed to proceed. He was subjected to physical and electronic monitoring. Furthermore, due to paperwork difficulties, the claimed passenger was denied Check-In by airlines.
The situation was discussed with customs officials, and the claimed passenger was intercepted at the Check-In area by the CISF Surveillance and Intelligence staff and brought to the International Departure Customs Office.
At the Departure Customs office, foreign cash (Euro and New Zealand Dollars) were discovered concealed in the trolley handles of his two bags. He was unable to present any documentation for carrying such a large amount of foreign currency.
The passenger was handed over to Customs officers, together with the discovered foreign currency worth about Rs 64 lakh, for further legal action.
More details are awaited.