Rs. 59 mn gold seized at BIA

Custom officials arrested two Sri Lankans, including a woman with gold biscuits worth Rs.59 million while they were trying to smuggle gold into the country last evening at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport.

Customs media spokesman Lesli Gamini said the suspects had hidden the gold biscuits in their underwear. 11.8 killograms of gold have been found in their possession.

The raid was carried out at the arrivals lobby of the airport when the suspects arrived from Singapore.

According to the Customs spokesman the suspects were from Wattala. “The 46-year-old female had concealed 48 gold biscuits in her underwear. Investigators said she was wearing four pairs of underwear,” he added.

Meanwhile, her 35-year-old male partner, also wearing four pairs of underwear was found to be carring 70 gold biscuits.

Mr. Gamini said investigations had revealed that the suspects were 'hired gold smugglers' and further investigations are being carried out by the Deputy Director of the Custom Ranjan Hewage and Anura Walawage.(DS)   

Pix by Deepa Adhikari