Indian man trying to smuggle out US$2.8 million in cash and gold caught at Zambian airport

Zambian customs officials said on Saturday they had arrested an Indian national who had attempted to smuggle more than US$2 million in cash and gold worth US$500,000 through the country’s main airport.

The 27-year-old was on his way to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates when his attempt was thwarted by a multi-agency team at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) said.

He was intercepted with US$2.32 million in cash and seven pieces of what they suspected to be gold valued at US$500,000, the agency said in a statement.

Images shared by Zambian media showed stacks of US$100 bills held together with rubber bands. The money was packed into a black bag, which was then placed inside a larger polypropylene suitcase.

“Investigations into the matter are ongoing,” DEC said, warning “those involved in transnational organised crimes that the long arm of the law will catch up with them soon”.

The southern African country has abundant reserves of minerals, including copper and gold. But its economy is impoverished and more than 60 per cent of the population lives in poverty, according to the World Bank.