(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Afghan-American allegedly caught with more than euro 300,000 at the Norman Manley International airport is to return to court on September 27.
Sohail Muhammad Siddiq, 41, was formally charged Tuesday with breaches of the Customs and Proceeds of Crime Acts and was scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court today.
He is remanded until the court date.
According to the police, Siddiq, who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates arrived on a flight from Panama, en route from Dubai.
“During routine security checks, his luggage was searched and euro 313,500 along with US$700 were found,” the Constabulary Communication Network said in a release.
It was earlier reported that Siddiq told the police that the money was to be used to buy cell phones in Jamaica. He had reportedly travelled to Dubai, Afghanistan, and South Africa prior to his trip to the island.
Siddiq has also been questioned about suspected links with terrorist groups in Africa and the Middle East.
Members of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force, the Financial Investigation Division, and Customs Contraband Enforcement Team Joint are conducting joint investigations.
In addition US authorities say they are supporting Jamaican investigators with their probe of Siddiq, who is a naturalised US citizen.
