Mumbai Airport News: CISF Foils Chad National’s Attempt to Smuggle Foreign Currency Worth Rs 1.39 Crore
Mumbai Airport News
A citizen of Chad was intercepted at Mumbai’s international airport after authorities allegedly recovered a large amount of foreign currency from his baggage. The incident took place at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport during routine security screening, highlighting strict monitoring of cash movement at Indian airports.
According to reports, the passenger was scheduled to travel on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Mumbai to Addis Ababa, with a further connection to N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. During the early hours of June 4, security personnel detected suspicious activity during hand baggage screening at the Integrated Security Hold Area of the airport. On closer inspection, officials reportedly found foreign currency worth around USD 145,000, which is approximately Rs 1.39 crore.
The screening was conducted by the Central Industrial Security Force, which is responsible for airport security and passenger baggage checks. The passenger was reportedly questioned due to unusual behaviour, after which a detailed inspection of his luggage was carried out. This led to the discovery of the large sum of cash.
Following the detection, airport security personnel immediately informed the Customs department. Officers from the Indian Customs Service reached the spot and took custody of the passenger along with the recovered currency. He was then escorted to the Customs camp office for further investigation and legal action.
As per India’s foreign exchange regulations, foreign nationals entering or leaving the country are allowed to carry only up to USD 5,000 in cash when departing India. Any amount exceeding this limit must be properly declared to Customs authorities through the required declaration forms. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to seizure of the money and legal proceedings under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Customs Act.
Officials suspect that the passenger was attempting to transport the undeclared cash out of India without following the mandatory declaration process. However, the final determination of intent and legality will depend on the ongoing investigation by Customs authorities.
Such incidents are taken seriously by airport enforcement agencies because undeclared movement of large amounts of cash can be linked to illegal financial activities, including money laundering or unauthorized currency transfer. Authorities regularly conduct strict screening at major international airports to ensure compliance with financial and security regulations.
The passenger is currently under investigation, and further action will be decided based on Customs findings. The seized currency has been taken into official custody as per procedure.
This case once again highlights the importance of following international travel rules regarding cash declarations. It also reflects the coordinated efforts of airport security and Customs officials in preventing illegal movement of funds through Indian airports.
