A female flight attendant of Jet Airways has been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly trying to smuggle out USD 4,80,200 out of the country, according to an official statement, reported PTI.

The accused crew member was intercepted by DRI officials when she was on a flight to Hong Kong yesterday, the statement said. It was found on investigation that she was working with a resident of Vivek Vihar area, named Amit Malhotra.

Amit Malhotra is said to be following a modus operandi of using crew members for smuggling of forex and has also been arrested.

"Malhotra would collect money from some bullion dealers in Delhi and send it via some air hostess to select foreign destinations. The money was being used for purchasing gold abroad. The gold would then be sent to India illegally," the official said.

He had befriended the Jet Airways crew six months ago during a flight to India. The DRI suspects the role of some other crew members of Jet Airways in smuggling out forex.

Malhotra has been illegally smuggling for over one year said the DRI and they are trying to find out the details of bullion dealers involved in this syndicate.