Delhi: 5 held for trying to smuggle euros worth Rs 1.25 crore in their rectums

Delhi: 5 held for trying to smuggle euros worth Rs 1.25 crore in their rectums

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, July 29, 2016: This gives "dirty money" a whole new meaning. Delhi airport authorities have arrested five people, including two women, who were trying to smuggle euros worth Rs 1.25 crore by stuffing the cash in their rectums.

The seizure made by the customs department is one of the biggest in the last five years, sources said.

The people arrested are allegedly part of a global hawala syndicate and the money, after changing hands in Bangkok, was moved elsewhere, sources said. "They were to meet a person in Bangkok and hand over the cash to him," said a customs officer. "A free trip to Bangkok along with Rs 30,000 is what they were promised for the job."

Hawala transactions are used by politicians, underworld gangsters, terrorists and even those wanting to park their unaccounted wealth abroad. Thousands of crores are diverted from the country through such connections every year. For a fee, a hawala dealer provides the foreign currency equivalent of any amount and transfers it anywhere in the world - bypassing normal banking channels and leaving no paper trail.

ACCUSED WERE TRAINED TO HIDE MONEY

All five of the carriers held were trained to conceal the currency notes in their rectums, officials said. "During investigation, we came to know that they got proper training for two-three weeks. They initially used pencil cell batteries and put them in their rectum. Once they got trained, a local trader handed over the money. The process takes almost three to four hours," said a customs officer.

All the accused are from Punjab and have been identified as Rinku (29), Rahul Madan (27), Lovish Kumar (21), Rajpal Kaur (31) and Shalu Rani (29). According to the custom departments, female carriers hiding huge amounts of cash in their rectum is unusual.

"On Tuesday, five passengers were intercepted after they had boarded the flight. Their detailed personal search resulted in the recovery of euro 1.64 lakh, worth Rs 1.25 crore. The said currency was concealed in the rectum of all the five passengers," said Sanjay Mangal, customs commissioner. "Recovered foreign currency has been seized under section 110 of Customs Act, 1962. The passengers have been placed under arrest under the provisions of section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962."

The recovery of the money is difficult in such cases, particularly if it’s in the form of currency notes, an officer said, adding that they have to wait for the accused to defecate.

"Our officials record this whole process so that it can help us as evidence in the case," he said.

The customs department says it has encountered instances of gold being hidden in the rectum, but cash recovery is very rare.

HAWALA SYNDICATES LURED ACCUSED

"During investigation, the accused revealed that the person who is in Bangkok told them that each of them will get Rs 30,000 along with a free trip to the city. It is an eight-hour job for them, including the flight. Sometimes, a few carriers also take sedatives so that they can easily conceal things in their rectum for longer periods without experiencing pain," sources said.

Hawala syndicates spot those who want to visit abroad and youths in Punjab are often targeted, said officials.

The amount paid varies according to the number of successful trips a carrier has made. While Rs 30,000 is on offer for firsttimers, the reward can go up to Rs 60,000-70,000.