LAHORE: A Customs team deputed at Allama Iqbal International Airport detained a foreign man, set to depart for Bangkok, for carrying an unusual amount of US dollars.
The detainee a Chinese national in his late 30s was in possession of US $60,000, as per Customs officials, and was travelling to Bangkok through a foreign airline.
The man has been taken into custody for questioning and a case was subsequently registered against him, the officials added. The accused has been shifted to unknown place for interrogation in custody of officials of Pakistan Customs, while a case has been registered against him.
According to revised rules of the State Bank of Pakistan regarding foreign exchange, a passenger can carry up to $10,000 or equivalent notes of another currency while going abroad.
Customs team will present the accused before the court of Customs Taxation and anti Smuggling on Tuesday for getting his physical remand for further investigation and prosecution under Pakistan Customs Act of 1969.
Number of currency smuggling cases has been registered in last two months. Pakistan Customs Preventive has foiled many currency smuggling attempts at Allama Iqbal International Airport and has recovered huge quantity of that were being attempted to smuggle from Lahore to other countries.
It is necessary to mention here that Customs Preventive authorities adopted a comprehensive strategy to foils the bid of smuggling at Allama Iqbal International Airport. Collector Faiz Ahmad directed all anti smuggling squads to adopt zero tolerance against smugglers.