In two separate cases, the Paro District Court has sentenced two individuals to five and six years in prison for attempting to smuggle large amounts of US dollars. Both were intercepted at Paro International Airport last year while travelling to Thailand. The judgments were passed on Monday.
In July last year, customs and airport security personnel intercepted 49-year-old Pem Gyem during final screening at Paro International Airport after suspicious images resembling currency were detected in her trolley bag.
Further inspection revealed US dollars 140,000 concealed in 14 packets.
The woman had failed to declare the currency as required by law.
As the currency was not successfully smuggled out of the country, the court sentenced her to five years in prison.
According to the Foreign Exchange Rules and Regulations 2022, a person may take out of Bhutan, foreign exchange in the form of traveler’s cheque, bank draft or bank notes up to USD 10,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency at any one time.
Any amount exceeding that or more shall obtain a clearance from the RMA and makes a declaration at the Department of Revenue and Customs.
In a similar incident in September last year, customs officials intercepted 50-year-old Yeshi Namgay at the Paro International Airport.
Authorities recovered USD 360,000 from his suitcase during final screening.
The court sentenced the man to six years’ imprisonment.
Tashi Dekar
