14 Lankans nabbed with gold jewellery worth more than Rs.30mn

Fourteen Sri Lankan passengers were arrested with gold Jewellery worth more than Rs.30million  at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning while attempting to smuggle them into the country, Customs Additional Director General media spokesman Sunil Jayarathne said.

He said the male passengers aged between 30 and 50 were residents of Colombo and the suburbs. They were arrested by the customs officials attached to the airport arrival lounge, he said.

"The 4.7 kilograms of gold jewellery was found from their pockets, undergarments and in their luggage. They attempted to take the jewellery out from the airport premises without declaring them to Customs. The jewellery was valued at Rs. 31,975,180," the spokesman said

The detection was made by the Customs Superintendents H.C.M.Perera, W.D.I.G.Withana, T.D.N.T.Samaranayake,H.M.G.P.Rajarathne, M.W.A.T.M.Wijesooriya, H.P.M.J.G.Pathirana, M.M.P.GunathilakeR.S.Madurapperuma, .D.L.S.Rupasinghe, R.M.T.S.S.Dhanapala, P.M.I.Wimukthi, S.V.Kamburugamuwa, Customs Assistant Superintendents M.P.W.Perera. Investigations were being conducted by the Customs Superintendents K.D.R. Perera, Lalith Gulawita, Sunith Bernard under the supervision of Deputy Directors K.H.P. Kumarasiri and M. Wimalasena. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama and T.K.G. Kapila)