COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Customs officials arrested two Sri Lankan nationals at the international airport when they attempted to illegally smuggle a stock of gems out of the country.
The two suspects, a 22-year old and a 24-year old, residents of Bambalapitiya, were arrested at the Departure Lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport waiting to board a Sri Lankan Airlines flight to Shanghai, China.
They had attempted to smuggle 218 pieces of gems weighing a total of 547.8 carats concealed inside five shampoo bottles. The gems were valued at Rs. 5,469,775, according to the Customs Media Spokesman Mr. Lesli Gamini.
After the Customs inquiry held by Deputy Director of Customs Mr. Wimal Liyanagama, the gems were forfeited and the suspects were fined Rs. 100,000 each.
