MULTAN: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Collectorate of Customs team foiled a bid to smuggle foreign currency and arrested severak passengers at Multan International Airport during joint operation.
Sources told Customs Today that Multan Customs Enforcement & Compliance has already enhanced scrutiny at Multan International Airport on the direction of the collector to thwart any attempt of smuggling and money laundering.
Federal Investigation Agency Multan Circle received credible information that smuggling attempt from passenger could be made through Multan International Airport.
Customs and FIA teams deputed at Multan International Airport were alerted and enhanced vigilance to prevent any attempt of smuggling. FIA staff found luggage of passenger’s suspicious and recovered huge amount of foreign currency at search counter of FIA and Customs. FIA and Customs found that passenger was trying to make money laundering as passenger have not filled their declaration form to declare their foreign currency. Said Passengers were going to Dubai through Airblue flight no.810.
Said accused were identified as Muhammad Sajjad, Muhammad Tahir, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Arif, Muhammad Sabir and Liaqat. They were all resident of Khangarh region district Muzaffargarh and they were travelling to Dubai from Multan.
Customs teams asked them about recovered foreign currency and accused informed them travel agent Faisal have given them foreign currency to deliver in United Arab Emirates.
Federal Investigation Agency also recovered hefty amount from companions of passenger from parking of Multan Airport. Said accused were asked to submit evidence of recovered foreign currency. Almost 200 Omani riyals were recovered from luggage of passengers.
FIA Multan Circle office teams detained foreign currency and started further investigations from them about money laundering. Further investigations are still under process.
