VASCO
In a major seizure by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Goa Customs on Monday, foreign currency equivalent to Rs 43.7 lakh was seized from two passengers travelling to Dubai
by an Air Oman flight at Dabolim airport.
According to reports, the AIU officials were performing duties on Monday under the supervision of the Assistant Commissioner and guidance of G B Santimano, Additional Commissioner of Customs, when they intercepted two passengers, one international and one domestic, based on suspicion.
The international passenger was intending to travel by Oman Air and the domestic passenger was part of his plan to outsmart the Customs Officers. The said passengers had been moving suspiciously in the departure hall before their check in formalities and could not give satisfactorily answers when confronted by Customs sleuths.
A search of the baggage carried by the two passengers resulted in recovery of foreign currency equivalent to Rs 43.7 lakh.
During questioning by Customs Officers, the passengers confessed that they were trying to smuggle the currency to Dubai. The currency was later seized under the provision of the Customs Act and FEMA.
The whole exercise was conducted under the overall guidance of R Manohar, Commissioner of Customs, Goa.
