Hyderabad: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Thursday seized foreign currency valued at approximately ₹1.56 crore from two Indian nationals at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) and arrested both after they failed to produce documents to account for the funds, officials said.
How the interception unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI Hyderabad zonal unit stopped a male passenger who was scheduled to fly to Kuala Lumpur on an AirAsia service. A search of his cabin baggage recovered substantial foreign notes concealed inside a black plastic cover placed among clothes in his trolley bag, the DRI said.
“A search of his cabin baggage led to the recovery of USD 66,600, Malaysian ringgit 3,773 and Singapore dollars 2, collectively valued at approximately Rs 63.62 lakh. The currency was concealed inside a black plastic cover placed among clothes in his trolley bag,” officials said.
During preliminary questioning, the male passenger disclosed that a woman was travelling on the same flight under a different passenger name record (PNR). DRI officers put the woman under surveillance and intercepted her. A search of her cabin baggage yielded USD 97,600, concealed in a similar manner, valued at approximately Rs 91.94 lakh.
Details of seized currency
| Passenger | Currency | Amount (foreign) | Approximate value (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male passenger | USD, MYR, SGD | USD 66,600; MYR 3,773; SGD 2 | Approx. ₹63.62 lakh |
| Female passenger | USD | USD 97,600 | Approx. ₹91.94 lakh |
| Total seized | Approx. ₹1.56 crore |
Legal action and next steps
The DRI said the entire foreign currency, together with the trolley bags used to conceal it, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Both passengers were arrested after they failed to produce documents establishing lawful procurement and carriage of the funds. Further investigation is under way to ascertain the source of the currency and the purpose for which it was being taken out of the country.
Officials did not disclose the identities of the arrested passengers or whether they had previous records. The DRI is empowered to probe money-laundering links and cross-border currency smuggling that contravene customs regulations and the Foreign Exchange Management Act where applicable.
Operational context and implications
Large interceptions of undeclared foreign currency at international airports frequently trigger inquiries into couriering networks, hawala channels and other informal remittance routes. Seizures of this magnitude often lead investigators to examine travel history, contact networks, transactional records and any linkage with organised flows of unaccounted funds.
- Enforcement action: Currency seized and both passengers arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.
- Investigations: Probe to determine the currency source and intended use; possible links to illicit remittance channels to be explored.
- Evidence: Trolley bags and concealed currency recovered; no supporting documentation presented by the passengers.
The DRI’s operation at RGIA underlines continuing efforts by customs and revenue intelligence agencies to curb unauthorised movement of high-value foreign currency. The agency routinely conducts intelligence-led checks at airports, sea ports and land borders to prevent evasion of foreign exchange regulations and to detect criminal networks involved in money-laundering.
Investigations at the Hyderabad zonal unit remain active. Authorities said they will continue to share details as the probe progresses and additional evidence is developed.
