FIA arrests two suspects for illegal money transfer

The Federal Investigation Agency’s State Bank of Pakistan Circle in its continuous crackdown against those involved in illegal buying and selling of dollars has arrested two suspects and recovered incriminating material.

Officials said on Tuesday that the FIA’s SBP Circle raided an office situated at Rex Center, Saddar. As a result of the operation, two suspects of an organised gang involved in illegal purchase of dollars were arrested red-handed. The suspects were involved in illegal exchange of foreign currencies.

The suspects were identified as Kashif, son of Muhammad Hanif, and Ali, son of Shahad. The FIA team also recovered dollars and euros and mobile phones from the suspects. Moreover, messages and transactions related to illegal currency exchange were found in the mobile phones of the suspects, who could not satisfy the authorities regarding the recovered currency.

The officials added that cash worth Rs500,000, cheque boxes of various banks, mobile phones and permits for tinted glasses (which will be verified by the Federal Interior Ministry) were recovered. A case no. 19/2024 has been registered against the accused and an investigation has been started after obtaining a seven-day physical remand. The arrest of other suspects is also expected soon.

Separately, the FIA State Bank Circle Karachi and Drug Regulatory Authority jointly carried out an operation in Gulshan-e-Rumi, Malir Cantt, and recovered unregistered, illegal and expired medicines of various foreign companies from Anup Kumar.

The drugs recovered from the accused are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies in the US and other countries. The accused had set up a store in his office from where he was busy selling the medicines online through a social media platform. The accused had created a page for his illegal business. Imported soaps, shampoos, cosmetic products and nutrition medicines of various foreign companies/brands were also recovered in the operation.

These medicines are used in heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and other diseases. The value of exported medicines and products is more than Rs15 million. The accused failed to provide documents related to imported medicines and other items/products.

The accused Anup Kumar Kundnani was working as a supervisor. The accused has identified his employer as Deepak Kumar, who lives in the United Arab Emirates. Anup Kumar Kundnani, son of Lal Chand, and Deepak Kumar Taleraja, son of Kartar, have been booked under the Drugs Act, 1976 and the Pakistan Customs Act, 1969, while raids are also being conducted to arrest other suspects involved.