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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration Karachi on Saturday intercepted two passengers travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and recovered a total of $55,100 in foreign currency, which investigators suspect was being transferred from Pakistan through unauthorised and undocumented channels.
The action was taken by FIA Immigration officials at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. The two passengers, Abid and Basit Nawayar, were travelling on valid Pakistani passports and UAE visas when they were referred for further verification and profiling during the immigration clearance process.
During questioning, Abid disclosed that he was carrying $5,000 but failed to produce the required exchange receipt for the purchase of the foreign currency. He told investigators that the money had been provided to him by Basit Nawayar.
Nawayar was subsequently called back from the boarding gate and questioned. He also failed to produce an exchange receipt for the foreign currency. A search resulted in the recovery of $15,100 from Nawayar and $5,000 from Abid, bringing the initial recovery to $20,100.
During further questioning, Abid told investigators that Nawayar had given him the money to deliver to a person named Mansoor, who was reportedly based in Dubai.
According to FIA Immigration Deputy Director Shahzad Akbar, Nawayar further disclosed during interrogation that he had allegedly received around $200,000 from different individuals, including Atif and Ahsan, whom he identified as being associated with a private chemical company based in Karachi. He allegedly stated that the funds had been provided on the instructions of Mansoor.
According to Nawayar’s statement, around $5,000 had earlier been delivered to Mansoor in Dubai through Ahsan, while approximately $30,000 was allegedly transferred through Nawayar and a person identified as Sultan.
He further stated that around $40,000 was allegedly handed over to a person named Zain, whom he identified as an employee of Pakistan Customs, while approximately $50,000 was allegedly given to another person named Nabeel.
Nawayar also allegedly told investigators that approximately $40,000 was kept at his residence, while the $25,100 recovered in the case was allegedly intended to be delivered to Mansoor in Dubai.
Both passengers failed to produce the required exchange receipts for the foreign currency recovered from them, according to the FIA.
The agency said preliminary information and statements indicated that a substantial amount of foreign currency was allegedly being physically transported from Pakistan to Dubai through individuals instead of being transferred through documented and authorised banking or legal financial channels.
During the investigation, FIA officials also examined the passengers’ mobile phones and found several chats that appeared to be linked to financial transactions, alleged unauthorised transfer of funds and matters relating to customs clearance. The agency said the information was being further verified and legally examined.
The two passengers were subsequently offloaded from the flight and handed over to the FIA Commercial Banking Circle (CBC), Karachi, for further legal action.
Meanwhile, acting on information provided by Nawayar regarding foreign currency allegedly kept at his residence, FIA officials conducted a search of the premises and recovered an additional $30,000.
With the latest recovery, the total foreign currency recovered in the case has reached $55,100, which the FIA estimated to be worth approximately Rs15 million.
