Dollars worth Rs 33 lakh packed in Pan masala pouches; officials unearth smuggling plot at Kolkata airport (VIDEO)

New Delhi: Custom officials at Kolkata airport on Monday apprehended a person for trying to sneak out more than Rs 33 lakh cash out of the country, concealed in pan masala pouches.

The Kolkata Custom officials apprehended the man after it came to their notice that the a Bangkok-bound passenger had hidden a whopping amount of cash in pan masala pouches & had planned to flee the country.

According to reports, the man was trying to smuggle illegal funds (in dollars) to Bangkok.

The man was apprehended while he was trying to escape the country to Bangkok in Thailand. The passenger was nabbed with Rs 32,95,240 and was set to fly to Bangkok on Sunday. He was nabbed by the Customs
Intelligence Unit (AIU) after large amount of dollars were detected in his bag during screening.

#WATCH | AIU officials of Kolkata Customs intercepted a passenger scheduled to depart to Bangkok yesterday. A search of his checked-in baggage resulted in the recovery of US $40O00 (worth over Rs 32 lakh) concealed inside Gutkha pouches: Customs pic.twitter.com/unxgdR7jSu

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2023

As the agency sleuths searched his bag after check-in, an amount of $40,000 was discovered. In each purse, 2 ten-dollar bills were detected.

“Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials of Kolkata Customs intercepted a passenger scheduled to depart to Bangkok yesterday. A search of his checked-in baggage resulted in the recovery of US $40O00 (worth over Rs 32 lakh) concealed inside Gutkha pouches: Customs,” tweeted ANI news agency.

The trafficker has used devious way to ship out the money from country. While ripping through the packets, the custom officials can be seen isolating dollars in small poly bags, finely packed inside the pan masala packets. The traveler was also seen carrying a trolley bag, filled with pouches.

The cops have taken the person in custody and the latter is being investigated.