A Jet Airways crew member was arrested by a team from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at the Mumbai international airport early on Thursday after he was found to be carrying $3,90,000 (about Rs2.64 crore) in undeclared cash.
According to a source, Rislie Agat, a crew member on Jet Airways flight 9W076 from Mumbai to Hong Kong, was carrying the cash in his check-in baggage.
“Agat was on duty when he was intercepted. The currency was concealed in five leather diary covers. He was intercepted at the customs counter after he had filled in his customs declaration form, in which he did not mention the foreign currency,” said the source.
Agat was arrested around 12.45am under relevant sections of the Customs Act. The flight to Hong Kong was scheduled to take off at 2.05am. “We are investigating if he has done this in the past and if other people are involved,” said an officer, who did not wish to be named.
DRI officials are also trying to determine the source of the cash and the reason Agat was carrying it. An officer, who did not wish to be identified, said, “Many airlines bar crew members from carrying currency apart from the allowance they are paid. One has to declare foreign currency at the customs counter and produce a receipt to show it has been bought from an authorised agent. There is no limit how much currency can be carried, but it has to be declared.”
{{/usCountry}}DRI officials are also trying to determine the source of the cash and the reason Agat was carrying it. An officer, who did not wish to be identified, said, “Many airlines bar crew members from carrying currency apart from the allowance they are paid. One has to declare foreign currency at the customs counter and produce a receipt to show it has been bought from an authorised agent. There is no limit how much currency can be carried, but it has to be declared.”
{{/usCountry}}Jet Airways said it is cooperating with the authorities. A spokesperson said, “Jet Airways has a zero-tolerance policy towards actions of employees that contravene local or international laws. This is clearly stipulated in employee contracts and reinforced in training sessions.
We take all necessary disciplinary action in accordance with company policy and procedures.”