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Dubai-bound students from India caught smuggling Dh1.47 billion hidden in notebooks

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In a scandal straight out of a spy thriller, three unsuspecting students bound for Dubai have been caught red-handed with over $400,000 (Dh1.47 billion) stuffed into notebooks at Pune airport. The discovery unfolded on February 17, when customs officials intercepted the trio — who claim they had no idea what was in store for them.

The plot thickened when it emerged that the students had received two mysterious bags from Pune-based travel agent Khushbu Agarwal, 41. She allegedly passed off the bags, claiming they contained urgent office documents for her Dubai operation. But what the students didn’t know was that hidden between the pages were stacks of foreign currency which had been meticulously concealed in a bold smuggling attempt.

Acting on a tip-off amid an investigation into a suspected hawala racket, Pune Customs unearthed the shocking secret. Indian authorities, in collaboration with officials in Dubai, quickly sent the students back to India — only to have them intercepted at the airport, where the currency stash was discovered.

The ensuing inquiry led to the dramatic detention of Agarwal, who confessed to owning the seized money during the interrogation. 

Further questioning resulted in the arrest of Mumbai-based forex trader Mohammed Aamir, the alleged supplier of the illicit funds. A subsequent raid on a forex firm in Mumbai uncovered even more foreign currencies from various countries.

Customs and Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers have since raided 10 locations across Pune, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, tightening the noose around those involved. Both Agarwal and Aamir have now been placed in judicial custody, as the authorities continue to unravel the currency smuggling case.

(Source: PTI, HT)

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

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Job scam alert: Dubai financial authority warns public of fake recruitment racket 

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The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has issued a warning to the public and the financial services community over a recruitment scam falsely using the name of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFCA).

According to the DFSA, scammers have been impersonating DIFCA employees on professional networking platforms, claiming to offer internships. Victims were contacted online, interviewed virtually, and later sent fake job offers and forged employment contracts.

In one reported case, the scammers went as far as providing a fake tenancy contract for accommodation in Dubai and requested payments of Dh6,365 for the apartment deposit and Dh903 for visa and administrative fees. The victim, believing the offer was legitimate, made the payments.

The fraudsters made their communication appear official by:

  • Using a fake email address: difca.recruitment.difc@collector.org, masked to appear as difca.recruitment@difc.ae;
  • Falsely displaying the DIFCA name and branding, including the unauthorised use of logos and stamps.

The DFSA has confirmed that these communications were fraudulent and not issued by the DIFCA. It stressed that DIFCA does not request payment for accommodation or visa fees as part of its recruitment process.

“These emails and job offers are fake. Do not respond to such messages or send any money,” the DFSA advised in its official alert.

The authority urged anyone who receives suspicious communications claiming to be from the DIFCA or the DIFC to verify the legitimacy via official DFSA channels.

Consumers are also encouraged to consult the DFSA’s:

  • Alerts page for scam warnings
  • Guidance on how to avoid being scammed
  • Public Register to check if a firm or individual is authorised

If you suspect a scam or receive suspicious documents claiming to be from the DIFCA, DIFC, or any DFSA-regulated entity, you are advised to contact the DFSA immediately.

(Source: www.dfsa.ae)

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From crime reporting to predicting incidents: Dubai Police tech wows top Pakistani officials

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Dubai Police is setting new global standards. During a special Police Innovation and Leadership Diploma (PIL) hosted in partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology, two senior officers from Pakistan’s National Police hailed Dubai as a “game-changing model” for modern law enforcement.

Colonel Kamran Ali and Colonel Umar Farooq were blown away by the Dubai Police’s use of AI, automation, and smart systems to boost security and community trust.

“Dubai’s motto ‘Smart. Secure. Together.’ isn’t just a catchy phrase, it’s a full philosophy,” said Col. Kamran, who oversees 2,500 officers back home. “They’re doing policing in a way the rest of the world should be watching.”

The duo praised the programme as more than just a diploma, calling it a blueprint for the future of policing across the globe.

Col. Umar Farooq, who also holds an engineering background, said the technical side of the course was eye-opening:

“AI, blockchain, machine learning… these aren’t buzzwords here; they’re in action. This is how policing should look in 2025 and beyond.”

From handling crime reports to predicting incidents before they happen, the Dubai Police’s tech-forward mindset left a lasting impression.

The Pakistani officers urged law enforcement agencies around the world to learn from Dubai’s example, saying it’s time to shift from traditional methods to more efficient, inclusive, and community-focused policing.

The Police Innovation and Leadership Diploma is just one of the many global collaborations Dubai Police is leading to share knowledge and drive change in the security world.

So next time you see a Dubai Police patrol car that looks like it came out of a sci-fi movie, just remember, the future of policing is already here.

(Source: Wam)

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Dubai Police deny reports of ‘missing’ Ukrainian model, reveal she fell from building site

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Dubai Police have rubbished sensational reports that a 20-year-old Ukrainian model was “missing for 10 days” and later found “battered” by the side of the road, insisting the claims are completely false.

In an official statement, police confirmed that the woman had not been abducted or abandoned but was, in fact, in hospital recovering from severe injuries sustained in a tragic fall at a restricted construction site.

The shocking twist comes after international media outlets claimed the model had mysteriously vanished, only to be discovered in distress days later. But Dubai authorities have set the record straight, revealing that she was injured on March 12 after entering the site alone and falling from a significant height.

Witnesses immediately called emergency services, and she was rushed to the hospital, where she remains under medical care, with her family by her side.

Police dismissed the widely circulated reports as “inaccurate,” slamming claims that she was missing or left abandoned as completely untrue.

Officials have urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation and respect the woman’s privacy as she recovers. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, keeping all case details strictly confidential under UAE law.

(Source: GN)

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