NEW DELHI — Security personnel at Kolkata airport intercepted two Bangkok-bound passengers attempting to smuggle United States currency worth approximately 1.14 crore rupees out of the country. Alert officers from the Central Industrial Security Force detected the substantial cache of undeclared cash after spotting irregularities during electronic baggage screening, uncovering a coordinated attempt to carry high-value banknotes across international borders without authorization.
X-Ray Screening Flags Hidden Baggage Compartments
The interception took place at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on October 19. Around 10:20 am, security officials stationed at the International Terminal Security Hold Area were conducting regular checks on outbound travelers scheduled to board Bhutan Airlines flight B3700 to Bangkok. A screener operating the X-ray machine observed suspicious images in the hand baggage of two passengers, prompting the security detail to divert both bags for an immediate and thorough physical inspection.
US Dollars Wrapped in Newspaper Inside False Bottoms
Upon conducting a manual search of the luggage, security personnel discovered that both pieces of carry-on baggage had been modified with false bottoms to conceal foreign currency. Inside these concealed compartments, officers found bundles of US currency wrapped in newspaper. The search yielded a combined total of 119,900 US dollars, equivalent to approximately 1,13,64,002 rupees. A further breakdown of the seizure revealed that 74,900 dollars had been concealed inside the bag of one passenger, while the remaining 45,000 dollars was retrieved from the baggage belonging to the second traveler.
Customs Takes Over Legal Proceedings Against Travelers
Following the recovery of the undeclared banknotes, CISF personnel completed standard security procedures and handed over both passengers, along with the entire seized currency, to the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs for formal action. Customs officials subsequently produced the traveler who carried the larger share of the cash before the District and Sessions Court to pursue further legal proceedings. The second passenger was released by the customs department after authorities completed official formalities and issued a formal detention receipt for the seized sum.
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