A PIA flight hostess was recently offloaded from a Jeddah-bound flight at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport after authorities seized large quantities of foreign currency during a search operation. It has drawn heavy attention in Pakistan’s aviation industry, and the Customs and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are looking into the matter.
As news of the incident spread, the air hostess was on a PIA flight from Lahore to Jeddah when authorities at the airport flagged her for further inspection. The foreign currency found by investigators was $37,318 (US dollars) and 40,000 Saudi Riyals, the report said. The currency was kept in her socks in what appeared to be an attempt to avoid detection during routine security and customs checks.
The discovery led authorities to immediately stop the crew member from boarding the aircraft. She was taken offloaded from the plane and taken into custody for questioning. Customs officials and the FIA were to investigate the source of the money and whether any laws related to foreign currency transportation had been violated.
Currency smuggling is still a serious offence under Pakistani law. Foreign currency that is smuggled out of the country should be declared to customs officials. Failure to do this could be the cause of seizure of money, legal action and even criminal investigation. Now police are looking to know if the cash has been legally obtained and whether there was any effort to move the money abroad without the required documentation.
The airline’s cabin crew being a member of the aircraft’s crew raised alarm in Pakistan’s aviation industry. Aviation professionals say that airport workers (especially people who work in the international industry) should follow all customs and security measures. Smugglers or wrongdoers can have a huge impact on the individual and the airline involved.
Investigators have not released any information on the identity of the air hostess or what could have led to the alleged recovery, investigators said. Travel records, financial records, and other evidence will be examined for the facts of the case, they said.
Pakistan International Airlines has not publicly commented on the matter. But aviation observers are confident that the airline will cooperate with the investigation. Based on the outcome of such an inquiry, disciplinary action could be taken by the company in accordance with applicable laws.
The seizure of foreign currency at airports is not new; customs officers regularly check for money laundering, tax evasion and other financial crimes at airports. Many cases have been reported at airports throughout Pakistan in recent years of people attempting to transport undeclared cash and valuables. The country’s financial system is safest with strict implementation of customs rules, government officials insist.
The case has been a topic of discussion on social media, and many people were surprised that a member of the airline crew could be involved in such allegations. Some on the internet have argued that the public should wait for an official investigation before concluding.
As the investigation continues, customs and FIA officials will investigate all aspects of the case– the origin, intended destination and purpose of the recovered currency. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether formal charges will be filed and if any legal action is taken.
The incident is still being investigated, and all findings are preliminary until the investigation is complete, the police said.
