Man at Kolkata airport tries smuggling $40k in paan masala packets and it does not end well

Each paan masala packet included two folded bills of 10 dollars (photo-ANI)

Kolkata Customs officials on Sunday (Jan 8) arrested a traveler scheduled to go to Bangkok, who had hidden $40,000 (Rs 32 lakh) in huge packages of paan masala!

Each of the packets contained two neatly folded ten dollar bills and traces of some powdered substance (mostly pan masala itself) that were taken and sealed. More details related to the money are yet to emerge, but the Airline Intelligence Unit (AIU) alerted the customs department as soon as the flight completed the immigration process.

#WATCH | AIU officials of Kolkata Customs intercepted a passenger scheduled to depart to Bangkok yesterday. A search of his checked-in baggage resulted in the recovery of US $40O00 (worth over Rs 32 lakh) concealed inside Gutkha pouches: Customs pic.twitter.com/unxgdR7jSu

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2023

Suspicion arose when his luggage was searched. A suitcase filled with packets of shut plus paan masala was recovered. While the nabbed passenger is yet to comment on his motive, the shares of Shuth Plus may soar!