CAPE TOWN: South African Revenue Services (SARS) Customs officials intercepted a consignment of currency worth R7.9 million at King Shaka International Airport in Durban last Friday‚ SARS revealed. This is the airport’s second large currency bust this year.
SARS Customs officers became suspicious when five suitcases scheduled for loading at the departing Emirates flight to Dubai were being removed from the international arrivals hall. “Upon investigation‚ it was established the owner of the suitcases was not processed to depart by Immigration due to a problem with his passport thus resulting in him and his suitcases (five) being pulled off the flight. Thus SARS Customs officials directed the luggage for a search.
“The suitcases were very heavy which made the officers suspicious of the contents. The first suitcase was searched and envelopes packed with South African bank notes were found. The other suitcases were then scanned and the images of four suitcases were consistent with the suitcase found with money. “One suitcase was found to contain personal effects. The search revealed the four suitcases to be full of envelopes packed with South African bank notes with a total of R7 909 200.00 in the suitcases‚” SARS said. The passenger was handed over to the South African African Police Service for possible criminal prosecution‚ it added.
