2 held with foreign currency at Hyderabad airport

Two male passengers who were to fly abroad were arrested at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here for allegedly possessing foreign currencies equivalent to Rs 96.34 lakh in violation of FEMA, a senior DRI official said today. Acting on a specific input, the two passengers were apprehended yesterday when they were about to board a flight bound for Dubai, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence official said. "The DRI Hyderabad Zonal Unit officers found that they (passengers) were carrying assorted foreign currency in their checked-in baggage concealed in burkhas and wrapped with tapes. The two passengers were carrying the assorted foreign currency (US dollars, UAE dirhams, Bahrain dinars and Saudi riyals) equivalent to Rs 96.34 lakh," DRI Additional Director General M K Singh said. He said the foreign currency was obtained by the duo from unauthorised dealers/persons in violation of FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) and the currency was attempted to be exported "contrary to the prohibition imposed in violation of the provisions of the Customs Act". The flyers, whose names are withheld, were produced before the Special Judge for Economic Offences, who remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days. Further investigation is on, Singh added.