Chennai: Customs officials seized foreign currency to the tune of Rs 99.5 lakh from a Dubai bound Sri Lankan passenger who arrived from Colombo at the Chennai international airport on Monday.
According to airport sources, acting on a tip-off that a Sri Lankan transit passenger, after arriving from Colombo was bound for Dubai and was suspected to be carrying currency, Customs officials interrogated him.
The man identified as Mohammed Safir (28) was taken up for questioning. As he was giving evasive replies he was personally searched and his hand baggage, a backpack, was also searched.
On examination of his backpack, foreign currency comprising of euros, Kuwaiti dinars, and UAE dirhams in various denominations, totally valued at Rs 99.5 lakh and packed in a plastic cover were found concealed among his personal effects.
He said that these were handed over by some unknown person near the aerobridge area. The foreign currency was recovered and seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 read with FEMA 2000.
The passenger was arrested and later given bail. Further investigation is under progress.
