Customs officials detained supermodel Ayyan Ali on Saturday for attempting to ship $500,000 out of the country through illegal means. The 21-year-old could face up to 10 years in jail for money laundering.
The model was detained at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport, said a customs official. She was to travel to Dubai through Emirates Airline flight (EK-615). The Airport Security Force intercepted her and recovered the said amount from her luggage.
Customs officials took action on a tipoff and registered a money laundering case against Ayyan. Later, she was presented before Special Judge Customs Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain, who sent her to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand.
As per the SBP foreign exchange regulation, a passenger cannot carry more than $10,000 or equivalent notes of another currency out of the country.