Pune Airport Customs Seizes $400,100 In Suspected Hawala Cash; Two Arrested

USD 400,100 was recently seized by the Customs Department at Pune Airport, with its estimated value standing at ₹3.47 crore. The suspected hawala funds were being smuggled to Dubai by three women.

Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case-Khushboo Agarwal (41) and Mohammad Amir (50), reported Pune Mirror.

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Amir, originally from Darbhanga district in Bihar, was found to be in possession of foreign currencies from 17 different countries following a search of his Mumbai residence by Customs officials.

According to available information, the three women carrying the bags containing the cash claimed they had received the luggage from Agarwal, a city-based travel agent, just before departure.

She had allegedly informed them that the bags contained urgent office documents required at her Dubai office. Trusting her, the women accepted the baggage and boarded their flight. However, upon arrival at Dubai Airport, they were apprehended during a security check.

The Dubai Aviation Authority subsequently deported them back to Pune Airport. Upon landing, they were interrogated by Customs officials, who traced the operation back to Agarwal, leading to her arrest.

It was revealed that the three women had flown to Dubai on an IndiGo flight on February 16 and returned to Pune on a SpiceJet flight.

The US dollars were discovered in their luggage during a customs inspection, but no accompanying documentation was found. This led to Agarwal's arrest.

Amir's name surfaced during further investigation, revealing that he had facilitated the exchange of US dollars for Agarwal. Consequently, his residence in Mumbai was raided.

Initially, both accused were placed in the custody of the Customs Department for six days before being remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

USD 2 million transferred so far

During interrogations, it emerged that a total of USD 2 million had been transferred through hawala transactions to date.

The illicit funds were smuggled in 15 separate consignments, amounting to approximately ₹16.6 crore.