COLOMBO: A 32 year old Iranian national arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the Customs officers while he was trying to smuggle foreign currencies amounting Rs.30 million.
Customs Spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa said, the suspect was attempting to smuggle the stash out to Doha via Iran when he was arrested around 7.00 pm.
During investigations Customs officers found € 177, 000 hidden inside his baggage wrapped inside sarongs. Dharmasena Kahandawa said investigations revealed the suspect was an employee of a project in Sri Lanka and he was holding only a residence Visa. The currency was confiscated and further investigations are being carried out by the Customs Department’s BIA Unit.
The raid was carried out by the Deputy Customs Director Anuradha Jayawardane, under the instruction of Deputy Customs Director Parakrama Basnayake. The investigations were carried out by the Customs Directors Ranjith Fernando, U.K. Piyasena, Assistant Customs Superintendents W.T. Krishantha, E.D.H. Geethika, I.P. Rathnayaka, Ravi Samarasinghe, A.G.M. Amrin and Ms. Indu Ranathunga.
