Assorted foreign currency equivalent to over Rs 67 lakh was today seized from a passenger who tried to smuggle it by an Emirates flight bound for Dubai at the Cochin International Airport.
The passenger, a native of Thrissur, was detained by Customs Air Intelligence officers.
Customs said the Air Intelligence Unit officers have been regularly maintaining surveillance at the departure hall over the passengers bound for sensitive places like Dubai, Sri Lanka, Malaysia etc.
"At around 4 AM, after clearing the checked-in baggage and emigration formalities, one passenger was intercepted by Customs Air Intelligence Officer on suspicion that he was carrying contraband," an official release said.
"A thorough examination of his checked-in baggage resulted in the recovery of foreign currency equivalent to Rs 67,05,380," it said.
Officials said all the bundles of currencies in the checked-in baggage were cleverly concealed in the false cavities of the checked-in-baggage along with a pneumatic wrench.
The officers seized the foreign currency under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 read with Foreign Exchange Management Regulations Act 1999.
The seizure was effected by a team of officers led by Jayanth P Narayanan, Assistant Commissioner.
