THE South African Revenue Services (SARS) customs officials intercepted a consignment of currency worth R7.9 million at King Shaka International Airport in Durban. This is the airport’s second largest currency bust this year. In February three suitcases scheduled for a departing Emirates flight to Amman via Dubai were confiscated with a consignment of currency worth R7-million

SARS Customs officers became suspicious when five suitcases scheduled for loading at the departing Emirates flight to Dubai were being removed from the international arrivals hall. The passenger was handed over to SAPS for possible criminal prosecution.

“The owner of the suitcases was not processed to depart by immigration due to a problem with his passport which resulted in him and his suitcases (five) being pulled off the flight.  The suitcases were very heavy which made the officers suspicious of the contents.

“The first suitcase was searched and envelopes packed with South African bank notes were found. The other suitcases were then scanned and the images of four suitcases were consistent with the suitcase found with money. One suitcase was found to contain personal effects. The search revealed four suitcases to be full of envelopes packed with South African bank notes with a total of R7 909 200.00 in the suitcases,” the revenue services said.

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