R7m in bank notes nabbed at Durban airport

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) on Monday evening intercepted R7m in bank notes from a passenger at King Shaka International Airport in Durban.

"We confiscated the money and handed it over to the South African Reserve Bank," Sars spokesperson Sandile Memela told Fin24.

Memela said that the passenger would face criminal prosecution as he "failed to declare that he was taking R7m out of the country". The South African rand bank notes were destined for Amman via Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight, Sars said in a statement.

Sars customs officers together with a baggage handler became suspicious when three suitcases scheduled for loading at the departing flight were being removed from the international arrivals hall.

"Upon investigation, it was established [that] the owner of the bags requested a change on the bags’ final destination without making a declaration to Customs. Thus Sars Customs officials directed the bags for a luggage scan," Sars said. 

The scanned images of the contents of the baggage revealed neither clothing nor personal items but SA rand bank notes with  total of R7 049 320.00 in the suitcases.  

The passenger and consignment were handed over to Saps for possible criminal prosecution.

Source Fin 24