Attempt to smuggle more than Rs5m in foreign currency foiled at Karachi airport

E-Paper | April 27, 2026

A money laundering bid was foiled at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport on Thursday night after customs officials arrested two women for attempting to transport a large amount of foreign currency to Dubai, a Customs Preventive Force (CPF) spokesperson told DawnNews.

According to the CPF spokersperson, Mohammad Irfan, the two women were attempting to smuggle 120,000 Saudi Riyals, 50,000 Emirati Dirhams and 500,000 Japanese Yen, which were recovered from them during a body search at the airport.

"The Customs Preventive Force made the arrest last night and presented the two women in court today, where their three-day physical remand was granted," Irfan said.

Irfan claimed that the women were part of a currency smuggling gang.

Currency regulations allow passengers to legally carry a maximum of $5,000 on an international flight.

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Zakota

Mar 24, 2017 02:51pm

Set them free like Ayan

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M.Saeed

Mar 24, 2017 03:11pm

But, the whole amount of currencies on their person would amount to about only $16,000 per head!

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Truth

Mar 24, 2017 03:21pm

So they caught a couple of ladies. Big deal! The other 300 passengers on the very flight probably had a lot more cash on them.

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Mahmood

Mar 24, 2017 03:38pm

Rs 5m? Is that a huge amount of money in Pakistan these days, to be considered part of a concerted currency smuggling ring? So they violated the rules on the limits of cash they can carry. The bigger fish are never caught, or at least manage to stay off the hook.

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Harmony-1©

Mar 24, 2017 04:10pm

@Mahmood - They take multiple trips. So yes, it can be "huge amount of money". The problem is they are just 'carriers'. The ones behind money laundering get away as they are too powerful.

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Ali Mansoor

Mar 24, 2017 04:36pm

Isn't this limit USD 10,000 for 18+ persons with maximum annual cap of USD 60,000.

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Mohammed Baluch

Mar 24, 2017 05:06pm

@M.Saeed please recalculate. There are only 2 ladies involved. Check your exchange rates.

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PINK PANTHER

Mar 24, 2017 05:40pm

2 women each Rs2.5m +2.5M = Rs5m total Ayan Ali alone $0.5m x 106= Rs53m. If AA didn't commit any crime, how could these two women? NOTE: Not defending the two ladies, just wondering about the justice system.

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CALCULATOR

Mar 24, 2017 05:54pm

Saudi Riyals 120000 = $31998.72 Emirati Dirhams 50000 = $13613.22 Japanes Yen 500000 = $4503.94 USD = $50115.88 x2 TOTAL = $100231.76

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PAtriot

Mar 24, 2017 06:21pm

@CALCULATOR where does it say each?

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Ayub

Mar 24, 2017 08:28pm

It is just a topi drama.Genuinely speaking no need to take money through airport for big fish.Entire Pakistani shore from Karachi to Gwadar is open through launches as Sharjeel Memon and party was operating.Even gold is smuggled in our country.How much quantity is imported every year nearly none.Our yearly consumption of gold is more than 100mt valuing US$400 million but nearly all is smuggled.So let us remain ignorant and continue thinking of being a sensible and vigilant nation.

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Sab se pehle pakistan

Mar 25, 2017 05:40am

Lets see if they are treated the same like Ayan Ali. Their cash is a lot less then Ayan Ali.

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