Man nabbed with jewellery worth Rs.2.1mn at BIA

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama and T. K. G Kapila   

A 23-year-old person was arrested yesterday with a parcel of gold jewellery worth Rs.2.1 million while he was attempting to smuggle them to Colombo by a luxury bus, Customs Additional Director General Sunil Jayarathne said.   

He said the suspect was arrested at the airport private bus stand by the officers attached to the Customs Narcotics Control Unit.   

Customs investigations revealed that the suspect was a businessman from Colombo.

“The jewellery had been received from an Indian passenger who had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last morning (7.20 a.m) from Chennai.   

During Questioning the suspect, he revealed that an Indian passenger had handed over the parcel of jewellery to him to transport it to Colombo, Mr. Jayarathne said.   

He said the parcel of jewellery was recovered from the suspects pocket. At the time of arresting the suspect, he was seated at the back of the Air Conditioned bus to leave for Colombo.   
Customs narcotic officers found 16 pendants weighing 369 grams, 21 earrings, 11 rings, 21 bangles on the suspect.   

An investigation into the case was conducted by Customs Assistant Superintendents Channaka Welarathne, Thamindu Hettiarachchi, Prasad Gunawardhane, Dilshan Weligampitiya and Dumindu Dayananda under the guidance of Customs Deputy Director W. M. D. R Jagath and Customs Superintendent J. L. K Fernando.