A Thai couple have been detained in Malaysia for failing to declare RM2.5 million in 10 different currencies, reports said today.

Wan Husen Manifadant, 49, and his wife Tharathit Datan, 48, were on transit to Singapore yesterday when security at Kuala Lumpur airport noticed large wads of notes in their hand luggage during a routine x-ray inspection, the New Straits Times said.

Their two bags were found to contain 10,000 pounds, 69,000 euros, 33,550 Swiss francs, 28,270 United Arab Emirates dirham, 1.1 million baht, US$50,000, 35 million Korean won, 14 million yen, 5.15 million Taiwanese dollars and 1.3 million Hong Kong dollars, it said.

Customs official Raja Razman Raja Rone was quoted by the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia as saying that the couple declared the amount when they entered the country by road via Rantau Panjang border town in Kelantan on Tuesday.

Working for moneychanger

They spent a night in the state before flying to the Kuala Lumpur airport the next morning to catch a flight to Singapore.

Raja Razman said an initial probe showed they worked for a money changer in Singapore but they would be detained for further investigation.

Under Malaysian law, travellers leaving the country with foreign currencies worth more than RM10,000 must declare the amount.

He said the couple was liable to have their money seized, and could face a jail term of up to a year or fined RM50,000 or both if they are charged and found guilty under the Customs Act. - AFP