ISLAMABAD – A major currency smuggling attempt by an diplomatic official of Kuwait was foiled at the New Islamabad International Airport on Wednesday.
According to Dunya News, Pakistan Customs officials deployed at the airport recovered $46,500 (around Rs6.27 million) from the possession of the suspect.
The accused has been identified as Khalid al Basit, a Kuwaiti diplomatic official, the news channel reported. Basit was taken into custody by the customs after offloading him from the plane.
He was going to Kuwait through a private airline from Islamabad.
Last year, Airport Security Force had arrested a Chinese passenger for alleged currency smuggling at Lahore airport.
The foreign national, who is going to Bangkok via an international airline, had been held during checking at the Allama Iqbal International Airport following the recovery of foreign currency worth Rs2.5 million.
The officials have recovered $20,000 and 15,000 Chinese Yuan from his possession. The accused had later been handed over to officials of Pakistan Customs.
According to revised rules of the State Bank of Pakistan regarding foreign exchange, a passenger can carry up to $10,000 or equivalent notes of another currency while going abroad.
The SBP also clarified that people travelling to or from Pakistan can carry Rs10,000 in cash as earlier the limit was Rs3,000.
