Barreto arrested at airport with unaccounted dollars

Kolkata: Brazilian football star Jose Ramirez Barreto, who is currently playing with the Mohun Bagan Atheletic Club, was arrested today at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose airport. His passport was seized. The customs officials had stopped him after it was found that he was carrying $21000, but had valid papers for only $3000.
Barreto was on his way to Brazil on a long holiday. He was to take an Emirates flight at 9.15 am. Later in the day he was produced at the Barasat sub-divisional magistrate’s court, which granted him bail.
Barreto arrived at the airport around 7.30 am with his luggage. But he was detained during the customs check and questioned throughout the day. Officials of the Mohun Bagan Athletic Club and mediapersons soon arrived at the scene. The club officials tried to negotiate with the customs officials, but the latter refused to budge.
The club’s senior official Arun Chakraborty, who was present at the Barasat court, told The Indian Express: “He was not carrying any illegal money. It was, in fact, his hard-earned money. But he should have been carrying detailed papers. Anyway, he will produce the papers before the court on April 3 and get released.”
All that the dejected Brazilian striker could comment was: “It is like seeing a red card in a match.”
21/03/08 Kolkata Newsline

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Categories: Airports Mar 2008, Foreign Mar 2008