Malawian teacher arrested at airport with R40,000 in foreign cash

Suhel Shirajamed Gangat, a 37-year-old teacher, has been arrested at Bakili Muluzi International Airport for the illegal possession of foreign currency. Authorities discovered R40,000 (approximately K4.8 million) in South African Rand concealed inside a plastic bag within his suitcases during a scan while he was preparing to travel to South Africa.

According to airport police spokesperson Dorrah Machila Chathyoka, Gangat failed to produce the required documentation authorizing the possession of the cash. The funds were seized, and Gangat has been charged with illegal possession of foreign currency. He is expected to appear in court.

The arrest occurs against the backdrop of a severe foreign exchange crisis in Malawi. Current regulations prohibit individuals from possessing foreign currency exceeding the equivalent of US$1,000 without permission from the Reserve Bank of Malawi. The scarcity of hard currency has led to significant restrictions on bank disbursements and the growth of a parallel market.