South African nabbed with cocaine worth Rs.60mn

A South African national was arrested at the Katunayake international airport while attempting to smuggle cocaine worth nearly Rs. 60 million, Customs Deputy Director (Legal Affairs) and Media Spokesman Sudattha Silva said.

He said the suspect landed in the country from Nairobi in Kenya via Doha, Qatar.

The suspect was arrested by the officers of the Narcotics Control Unit of the Sri Lanka Customs today while inspecting his baggage, the Spokesman said.

He said the contraband was found hidden in two shampoo bottles in three parcels.

Accordingly, the customs officers found cocaine weighing 2.29 kg hidden in shampoo bottles.

After the preliminary investigations by the Sri Lanka Customs, the suspect and the narcotic substances to be handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB), the spokesman added.  (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)