PIA air hostess arrested for smuggling foreign currency

LAHORE: An air hostess of the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was caught red-handed at Lahore airport while attempting to smuggle foreign currency out of the country.

Customs officials at Allama Iqbal International Airport during a search operation caught the PIA air hostess in possession of US dollars and Saudi riyals, amounting to millions of rupees in Pakistani currency.

She was scheduled to fly from Lahore to Jeddah on a PIA flight when customs officials, acting on suspicion, collaborated with FIA immigration to offload her from the plane. A thorough search revealed the concealed currency.

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According to Deputy Collector Customs Raja Bilal, the confiscated amount included US $37,318 and 40,000 Saudi riyals. The currency notes were hidden in her socks, a tactic used to evade detection during security checks.

Raja Bilal further elaborated, “The air hostess was searched based on suspicion, and the currency was discovered hidden in various parts of her body. She was immediately removed from the Jeddah-bound flight, and a case was registered against her.

She has been handed over to the investigative team for further inquiry.”