KOCHI: Customs officials are trying to unravel the mystery of an Afghan currency smuggler who preferred to fly the same flight for more than five occasions. Kabul native Siddiq Yousafi, 33, smuggled out foreign currencies for more than five occasions by flying the same airline from New Delhi via Kochi to Dubai!
Yousufi was intercepted by the Customs officials while trying to board a flight from Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Nedumbassery.
He had caught a Dubai-bound flight from New Delhi via Kochi. However, due to technical issues, there was a 24-hour delay at CIAL and the passengers were asked to board the next flight. Before boarding from CIAL, Customs seized currencies worth `10.86 crore from his baggage.
“One of the interesting factors in this case is that the Afghan national has been using the same Air India flight which starts from New Delhi and reach Dubai via Kochi. We are enquiring whether the accused was receiving any help from flight crew or if there was an aide who would board the flight along with him from Kochi. We also have to check whether anyone supporting the smuggling gang is deployed at New Delhi airport when the same flight takes off from there. We have evidence that he was involved in currency smuggling multiple times. While returning from Dubai, he prefers different flights,” a Customs officer said.
The probe team had collected video footages from New Delhi airport which confirmed that the accused boarded flight with the baggage. Customs officials on Tuesday placed Yousafi under Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act in order to avoid him from escaping from India once released on bail.
The Customs authorities will apprise the Ministry of External Affairs of the fact that visa was issued to Yousufi without proper verification. Yousafi first reached India on a tourist visa. Later, he obtained a business visa which permitted multiple entries.
“There are several mismatches about the information given by the accused to obtain the visa to enter India. There are discrepancies in his educational qualifications. On one occasion, elementary education was given as his qualification. In another, it was stated that he was a graduate. We will certainly approach the Ministry of External Affairs and report the matter,” Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said.
A10.86 cr
Value of the cash seized by Customs officers from the baggage of Afghan national Siddiq Yousafi, who was intercepted while trying to board a flight from Cochin airport