Chennai: A city-based businessman and an airport employee were arrested here on Sunday for allegedly trying to smuggle out USD 35,000 to Singapore after the suspected hawala money was seized from the checked-in baggage.

Shajahan, who was booked on an Air India flight to Singapore, and Prasad, a catering superintendent employed at the airport, were arrested after Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sleuths unearthed the money from the luggage of the passenger following a tip-off, officials said.

They said Prasad had allegedly placed the foreign currency in the luggage after it was checked in by Shajahan.
The money was suspected to have been part of a hawala transaction and further investigation was on, they said, adding the luggage with the cash was retrieved from the aircraft.
Surveillance at the airport had been stepped up following a recent similar attempt to smuggle contraband with the help of a private airline employee, the officials said. PTI