DRI seizes USD 1 million, arrests 2 foreign nationals from Delhi, Bengaluru airport

In yet another major crackdown on smuggling of foreign currency out of India, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Monday and Tuesday seized a total of USD 1 million at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal-3, New Delhi and Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. The DRI officials also arrested one Afghan national and one Singaporean national from the two international airports respectively. While a total of USD 4,90,000 valued at Rs 3.59 crore was seized in Delhi, US Dollar/Euro/Saudi Riyals currencies equivalent to Rs 3.50 crore was assorted from Kempegowda airport in Bengaluru.

"The foreign currency was being smuggled out of India to Dubai and Singapore, respectively," according to an official statement by the DRI.

Read the full official statement released by the revenue intelligence here:

In an operation conducted on 17.12.2018 in New Delhi, officers of DRI intercepted one Afghanistan national who was about to board a flight from IGI, Terminal-3 to Dubai, UAE. Detailed search of the baggage of the passenger resulted in the recovery of US Dollars concealed in the inside walls of a microwave oven, in the packaging of ceramic mugs and the inner lining of the checked-in suitcase.

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The accused had cleverly dismantled the microwave oven and concealed the foreign currency in the inner walls using black tape in order to avoid detection by Custom Authorities. US Dollars were also concealed in the packaging of ceramic mugs in order to pass them off as packaging material during routine checks and in a specially made cavity in the stroller bag.

Initial investigations have revealed that the foreign currency was being smuggled out of India as payment for the gold that had been smuggled into India previously. The accused also admitted to having smuggled foreign currency out of India on three previous occasions, taking the total detection in the case to USD 1.04 Million.

In another operation carried out at Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, officers of DRI intercepted one Singapore national and recovered assorted Foreign currencies viz. USD, Saudi Riyal and Euro of various denominations from his checked in baggage. The total worth of foreign currency in this case is about INR 3.5 crores.

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In 2018, Indian Customs has arrested as many as 219 foreign nationals on charges of smuggling gold into India and foreign currency out of India. Arrested individuals include foreign nationals from South Asia, East Asia, South-East Asia and also Africa.