Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has seized foreign currency worth over one crore rupees at Kolkata airport, and two passengers have been arrested in connection with the seizure.
According to the information available, the force recovered 1,19,900 US dollars from the two passengers on October 19. The passengers were travelling to Bangkok on a Bhutan Airlines flight when the currency was found during security checks.
Further details about the identities of the passengers, the manner in which the currency was concealed and the agencies that will carry forward the investigation have not been shared in the information available so far. The two passengers have been arrested.
Airports in India are guarded by the CISF, which is responsible for screening passengers and baggage and for preventing the entry of prohibited items into aircraft. Over the years, the force has frequently detected undeclared foreign currency, gold and other contraband during routine checks, and such seizures are generally handed over to the customs authorities or other competent agencies for legal action.
Rules governing the carriage of foreign currency are laid down under Indian foreign exchange and customs laws. Travellers leaving the country are permitted to carry foreign exchange only up to prescribed limits without declaring it, and larger amounts require appropriate documentation and declaration. Cash carried in excess of the permitted limits without proper authorisation can be seized, and those involved can face arrest and prosecution depending on the nature of the violation.
The recovery of an amount exceeding one crore rupees points to the scale of the attempted movement, which investigators usually examine closely to determine the source of the money, the intended recipient at the destination and whether the passengers were acting on behalf of anyone else. Such cases are often investigated for possible links with organised smuggling or illegal money transfer networks, though no such links have been mentioned in this instance and no conclusion should be drawn until the inquiry is complete.
The seizure underscores the vigilance maintained by the security force at major airports, where routine screening of passengers and baggage plays a key role in detecting violations of the law. Passengers travelling abroad are advised to be aware of the limits and declaration requirements for carrying foreign currency, since failure to follow the rules can lead to serious legal consequences.
The two arrested passengers are expected to be produced before the competent authorities as the investigation proceeds, and further information is likely to emerge as the agencies examine the case.
