Youth arrested with US dollars worth over Rs.12 mn

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

A 19-year-old youth was arrested with 70,600 US dollars, which is equivalent to LKR 12,827,977, at an Army checkpoint at Tharapuram, 
in Mannar.  

The Police said the suspect was arrested by the Police and the Army when they stopped his motorcycle following a tip off received by the army.  
The officers recovered 706 notes of USD 100 bills under the seat of the motorcycle.   

The Police said the suspect was arrested as he failed to describe how the foreign currency came into his possession.   
The suspect, a resident of Talaimannar, and his motorcycle were taken into custody accordingly.  

Meanwhile, a 38-year-old man, a resident of Mannar, who arrived at the scene after receiving information about the arrest, was also arrested on charges of aiding and abetting.  
Police said both suspects would be produced in the Mannar Magistrate’s Court today.