Mohun Bagan footballer Jose Barreto was on Thursday arrested by the customs authorities at the NSC Bose international airport in Kolkata for violation of certain provisions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Barreto, detained at the airport since 0900 IST on his way to Brazil, was interrogated extensively by the airport customs officers after he was found carrying dollars in excess of the permissible amount under FEMA, customs sources said.
He was later arrested, sources said, adding that he was being produced in a court in North 24-Parganas
Airport customs officials said Barreto, who was bound for Brazil, was detained after it was found that he was carrying excess dollars with him "which he did not declare".
Sources said the footballer neither submitted any paper to the customs authorities nor declared that he was carrying about 14,000 to 15,000 US dollars.
"Any foreigner can be allowed to carry 5,000 US dollar and that too after making an oral declaration," customs sources said.
"He may be fined on the excess amount which can also be confiscated," they added.