Two foreign nationals fined after being caught with over US$50,000 each at NMIA
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Two foreign nationals have each been fined $200,000 or 20 days imprisonment after they were found in possession of more than US$50,000 at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in two separate incidents.
Charged are 39-year-old Adesh Seuraj, a Trinidadian national, and 52-year-old Lal Chowdhary, an Indian national residing in Curacao.
Reports are that on Monday, October 6, Seuraj was arrested at the NMIA after officers from the Jamaica Customs Agency found him in possession of more than US$64,000. He told investigators that he had collected the funds from a wholesaler in Jamaica.
Two days later, on Wednesday, October 8, Chowdhary was arrested at NMIA after being found with over US$50,000. He gave a similar account to investigators, stating that the cash was collected from a wholesaler in Jamaica.
Both men appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Friday, October 10, where they pleaded guilty to the offence. They were both charged with conducting a cash transaction exceeding one $1 million, which is contrary to Section 101 of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
Acting senior superintendent of police Victor Barrett of C-TOC described the convictions as a demonstration of Jamaica’s efforts to combat financial crimes and protect the economy.
“These convictions send a clear message that Jamaica is not a soft target for financial crimes,” said Barrett. “They reflect the collaboration with the police and their partners, the vigilance at our borders, the efficiency of the judiciary, and the professionalism and integrity of our investigators. The Proceeds of Crime Act continues to be a vital tool in disrupting illicit financial activity,” he added.
He further emphasised that while both men were fined $200,000, under the Proceeds of Crime Act, a person convicted of this offence can be fined up to three million dollars and imprisoned for up to three years.
The public is being reminded to report financial crimes or any suspicious activities to the C-TOC at 876-967-1389, Crime Stop at 311, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811, the police 119 emergency number, or the nearest police station.
