TRICHY: A resident of Trichy was caught on Sunday while attempting to smuggle foreign currency worth 11.48 lakh from the city airport to Malaysia. This is the second such incident in a span of two days.
Customs officials, in recent days, have begun tightening security after reports of currency being smuggled from the Trichy International Airport.
Khaja Mohammed, 40, was caught while trying to smuggle the currency to Malaysia on Sunday morning.
According to the customs officials, the passenger was trying to smuggle the currency by concealing the wads of notes in the clothes in his luggage. However, it was not enough to escape the high end x-ray scanners at the airport.
On investigation, it was found that the passenger was trying to board the Air Asia flight to Malaysia.
Khaja Mohammed is alleged to have received the baggage from certain agents for transporting it abroad.
According to the intelligence sleuths, has was taken in by the customs officials for investigation.
Singapore dollars, Ringgits, Euros and Dirhams were found in the luggage of the passenger, valued at 11,48,000. The customs authorities are currently trying to unearth the source of the counterfeit currency.
It is alleged that Khaja Mohammed was only the transporter or ‘Kuruvi’ for an agent who is believed to have lured him with money, in Trichy a few days back.
The customs and air intelligence authorities have upped vigilance at the airport, which has resulted in increasing case of busts in recent days. A special team was set up at the airport as per orders of customs commissioner K C Johnny, and joint commissioner Sivakumar.
