Wed Feb 26 15:18:49 UTC 2025: ## Pune Customs Busts $400,000 Hawala Racket, Travel Agent Arrested
**Pune, India –** Pune Customs officials have busted a major hawala racket involving the smuggling of over $400,000 (approximately Rs 3.5 crore) in US currency. The operation, which involved a coordinated effort with Dubai customs, led to the arrest of a Pune-based travel agent and a Mumbai forex firm employee.
Three students traveling from Dubai were stopped at Pune airport on February 17th after customs officials received intelligence about a large sum of undeclared foreign currency being smuggled out of the country. A search of their luggage revealed $400,100 concealed within books inside two trolley bags.
The students, who had booked their trip through Pune travel agent Khushbu Agarwal, claimed they were unaware of the currency’s presence. Agarwal, who had given them the bags at the last minute under the guise of containing office documents, was subsequently detained and her statement recorded.
Investigations led authorities to a forex firm in Mumbai’s Fort area, where a further Rs 45 lakh (approximately $54,000) in foreign currency was seized and Mohammed Aamir, the supplier of the US currency, was arrested. Simultaneous raids were conducted across ten locations in Pune, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.
The case highlights a sophisticated hawala operation using unsuspecting individuals to transport illicit funds. The investigation is ongoing.
First Piper 