Polish national nabbed with 100 gold biscuits worth Rs.65mn

A 60-year-old Polish national had been arrested with 100 gold biscuits, worth Rs.65 million, this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Customs Spokesman Deputy Director Sunil Jayarathne said.

He said the suspect, who arrived from Dubai was apprehended by the Customs officers at 8.50 a.m. while attempting to smuggle in the gold biscuits through the Green Channel.

The gold biscuits, weighing 10 kilograms, were found wrapped in his waist belt (girdle) which was specially made to transport gold biscuits, he said.

“Smugglers have turned into a new direction to keep up their activities. Following the Customs DG’s directive to pay more attention to Indian and Pakistani passengers for gold smuggling, the smugglers are using passengers from Europe or European passengers for smuggling,” he said.

The detection was done by Customs Assistant Superintendent Nuwan Abenayake, Sri Lal Wijewardhene and Rasika Samanjith.

Investigations were carried out under the directive of Customs Director O.M Jabeer by Deputy Directors O.J Obeysekera, Vipula Minuvanpitiya and Viraj Wijewardhene along with Customs Superintendents S.H.M. Ibrahim Kamal Seneviratne, Shanthapriya and Assistant Superintendents Ravi Samarasinghe and Sumudu Jayawardene. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama and T.K.G. Kapila)