Colombo: Sri Lanka Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake have arrested a three Sri Lankan passenger who was attempting to smuggle in gold worth over Rs 4 million.
The three passengers arrived from Bangkok had the gold items carefully concealed in their clothes. The total weight of the gold is 684 grams.
The suspects are residents of Ja-Ela, Minuwangoda and Colombo.
Meanwhile, the officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Division at the Arrival Lounge of the airport have arrested a female passenger, who had arrived from Dubai, for attempting to smuggle in 19,920 sticks of foreign cigarettes.
The cigarette sticks, contained in 99 cartons and 06 packets, were detected while hidden inside the suspect’s travelling bag. The stock of cigarettes is estimated to be valued at Rs 990,000.
The 49-year-old female suspect is a resident of Madurankuliya area.
In a separate incident, Customs officers attached to the BIA have detained another Sri Lankan passenger for attempting to smuggle in 174 cartons of foreign cigarettes containing 34,800 cigarette sticks.
The contraband estimated to be worth over Rs 1.7 million was seized while hidden inside the suspect’s travelling bag.
The 32-year-old suspect, who had arrived from Dubai this morning (19) is a resident of Kuliyapitiya.
Customs officers attached to the BIA are conducting further investigations.
