Rs 27 L worth foreign currency, 1.4 kg gold seized

Foreign currency equivalent to Rs 27.23 lakh and 1.4 kg gold worth Rs 44.6 lakh were seized today from three persons in two separate cases by DRI officials at the International Airport here.

Acting on specific intelligence,the officials intercepted a passenger who had cleared immigration and security and was about to board a flight to Sharjah.

An examination of his baggage revealed foreign currency in the form of Qatari Riyals, Kuwaiti Dinars, Bahrain Dinars, UAE Dirhams, Saudi Riyals, Omani Riyals and US Dollars of various denominations, a release from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said.

The passenger on being questioned said the currency did not belong to him and was obtained from unauthorised dealers/persons for delivery in Sharjah, it said.

As this was in violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, the foreign currency equivalent to Rs 27.23 lakh was seized and the man was arrested, it said.

In another case, DRI officers intercepted a passenger who arrived here from Abu Dhabi, after they got information he had gold bars and would hand them over to an airline employee.

The passenger, after disembarking, entered a toilet in the immigration hall, where an Air-India-SATS employee received the gold bars, the release said.

On examination, 12 gold bars, valued at Rs 44.6 lakh were found in the employee's possession.

Both the passenger and the employee were arrested, the release added.