Custom officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport, seized $63,000 (~₹54.30 lakh) in cash from two passengers traveling to Dubai on a SpiceJet flight on Thursday.
According to customs officials, the passengers were likely carrying this advance payment for gold smuggling from Dubai. Both passengers have been detained by customs.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the passengers were likely carrying this advance payment to facilitate gold smuggling. Officials are currently recording the statements of both passengers to gather more details. Arrests may follow after determining the source of the money and the intended recipients in Dubai.
As per customs regulations, possession of foreign currency exceeding ₹50 lakh leads to immediate arrest. In this case, the investigation is ongoing.
This marks the second such case of dollar seizure at Ahmedabad airport within two days. Just a day earlier, customs had seized $19,000 hidden inside a passenger’s slippers who was also traveling to Dubai on a SpiceJet flight.
Given the back-to-back incidents, customs officials at Ahmedabad International Airport have intensified surveillance on passengers traveling to Dubai with large amounts of foreign currency.
Police believe that a specific gang operating in Ahmedabad is involved in transferring hawala money to their Dubai-based network for purchasing gold.
Customs authorities are closely monitoring passengers on similar routes to curb such illegal activities.