SL woman arrested with Rs.28mn worth foreign currency

A 50-year-old Sri Lankan woman was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle out foreign currency notes worth Rs. 28 million this morning.

Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said the suspect was arrested at the airport departure lounge with Rs. 28, 257,645 concealed in her baggage, about to board a flight to Bangkok.

She was a resident of Kaduwela, Gamini said.

Custom officials found UK Sterling Pounds 35,700, USD 44,170, Norway Kroner 100,000, Denmark Kroner 100,000, EURO 30,100, Swiss Franc 4300, Saudi Riyal 60,000, Canadian dollars 24,000 and 1,000,000 Korean Won inside her baggage, Gamini said.

This is the second foreign currency raid within a week.

Earlier a 35-year-old Sri Lankan male had been arrested with Rs. 60 million worth of foreign currency notes at the Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) while attempting to smuggle out them to Dubai on November 16.

"The attempts to smuggle out large amounts of money could indicate money laundering purposes," Gamini said.

The gold smuggling trend had now changed into foreign currencies, he said

Investigations are being carried out by the Customs Deputy Director Anura Walawage, Superintend Nimal Chandrakumara, Assistant Superintend Hasantha, Indula Mahesh, Hasantha Kaushalya, Prince Pinto, Samitha Gunasinghe, Ranjan Kumara, Samantha Pushpakumara and Mrs. Indu Ranathunga. (Chaturanga Pradeep)