KARACHI: A money laundering bid was foiled at Jinnah International Airport on Friday after customs officials caught two women attempting to smuggle foreign currency worth over five million rupees to Dubai.

The burqa-clad women — Shazia Ameer and Shamim Khatoon — were scheduled to board the Emirates flight EK 601 for Dubai early Friday morning. During a body search at the departure lounge, the customs officials recovered 120,500 Saudi riyals, 50,000 UAE dirhams and 500,000 Japanese yen hidden in their clothes.

A case was registered against the two women, who were produced in the customs court later in the day where a three-day remand was granted for further investigation. According to the customs sources, the next hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2017