Pune Airport: $400,000 Hidden In Students’ Notebooks Seized By Customs
Pune Airport: $400,000 Hidden In Students’ Notebooks Seized By Customs
PUNE – In a major crackdown on foreign currency smuggling, Pune Customs officials seized foreign currency worth ₹3.47 crore hidden inside notebook pages from three female students traveling to Dubai. The smuggling attempt was uncovered as part of an investigation into a suspected hawala racket.
The case came to light after Pune Customs had earlier arrested a travel agent, leading to further probes into illegal money transfers. During the investigation, officials discovered that three female students and a forex trader from Mumbai had traveled to Dubai.
Secret Tip-Off Leads to Seizure
Pune Customs received intelligence that large sums of foreign currency were being smuggled inside the notebooks carried by the students. Acting on this information, Indian authorities requested Dubai officials to intercept the students upon arrival and send them back to India.
Upon their return on February 17, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials detained the three students at Pune Airport. A detailed search of their baggage led to the recovery of USD 400,100 (approximately ₹3.47 crore), with $100 bills concealed between the pages of multiple notebooks.
Students Reveal Role of Travel Agent
All three students were pursuing postgraduate studies and were interrogated by AIU officials. During questioning, they disclosed that their trip was booked through a Pune-based travel agent, Khushbu Agarwal. They further claimed that Agarwal had handed them the bags containing the concealed cash before their journey.
On the basis of further questioning and investigation, a search team was rushed to a Forex firm in Mumbai and apprehended a person, Mr Mohd Aamir who had supplied this foreign currency. During the search of the firm, foreign currencies of various countries (equivalent to around INR 45 lakhs) were also found in the premises. Air Intelligence Officers of Pune Airport and officers of Customs Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad conducted searches at 10 places at Pune, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Two accused (Ms Khushboo Agarwal and Mr Aamir) were arrested and presented in the court where 6 days Customs Custody was granted by the honourable court. On 24/02/2025 They were sent to Judicial Custody for 14 days; currently they are lodged at Yerwada Central Jail. Case is under investigation by the Pune Customs (Airport) team.
Authorities are now investigating the involvement of the travel agent and others linked to this suspected hawala network.
