Customs officials at Allama Iqbal International Airport conducted a successful operation on Saturday, apprehending a PIA air hostess attempting to smuggle foreign currency.
The air hostess was found with US dollars and Saudi riyals, amounting to millions of Pakistani rupees. She was scheduled to fly from Lahore to Jeddah on a PIA flight when suspicious customs officials, working with FIA immigration, offloaded her. During a search, they uncovered the riyals and US dollars.
Deputy Collector Customs Raja Bilal reported that the seized amount included 37,318 US dollars and 40,000 Saudi riyals, hidden in her socks.
Officials, acting on their suspicions, conducted a thorough search and discovered the currency hidden in various parts of her body. She was removed from the Jeddah-bound flight, and after a case was registered, she was handed over to the investigation team.
Deputy Collector Customs Raja Bilal stated that directives from the Prime Minister and the Chairman of FBR to prevent currency smuggling were being strictly followed. Higher officials of the national airline were informed about the air hostess’s smuggling attempt.