Two held from Mumbai airport with fake currency

Two persons were arrested from the Mumbai international airport for allegedly trying to smuggle in counterfeit currency having face value of Rs 19.99 lakh, while undeclared memory cards and goods estimated to worth around Rs 3.87 lakh were seized from them, Customs officials said on Monday.

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Two persons were arrested from the Mumbai international airport for allegedly trying to smuggle in counterfeit currency having face value of Rs 19.99 lakh, while undeclared memory cards and goods estimated to worth around Rs 3.87 lakh were seized from them, customs officials said on Monday.

Ghalamsalam Mubarak and Sayed Ali Madar, both Indian nationals, who landed here on a Jet Airways flight last night from Dubai, were intercepted near the exit gate by the sleuths on suspicion, said Additional Commissioner (Air Intelligence Unit) Mahindra Pal.

The duo initially refused carrying any undeclared goods, however, their movements were found to be suspicious, he said.

Upon checking their baggages, the fake currency with a face value Rs 19.99 lakh, undeclared memory cards and goods of Rs 3.87 lakh were found in their possession, Pal added.

They were subsequently arrested and a vehicle belonging to them was also seized, Customs officials said.

The two were today produced before a court which remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days.

Defence lawyer Ravi Hirani argued before the court that his clients were carrying the baggages without knowing what it contained.

"They were told by some people to carry the baggages for which the two were paid Rs 8000," Hirani said.