22 October 2019 01:32 pm
An employee of a duty-free shop at the arrival lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has been arrested this morning with gold biscuits and jewellery worth Rs.39 million while attempting to smuggle them into the country, Customs Additional Director General and Media Spokesman Sunil Jayarathne said.
He said the raid was conducted by the officers of the Customs Narcotics Division at the arrival lounge at BIA today.
Customs Director and Acting Spokesman Lal Weerakoon said the 26-year-old suspect was a salesman at a home appliances seller at the airport arrival lounge and a resident of Wattala.
“During the investigations, it was revealed the gold biscuits and jewellery had been handed over to him by a passenger to take them out of the airport,” he said.
“Further questioning revealed the smuggling was organised by a businessman in Dubai,” Mr Weerakoon said.
The suspect had been caught on two previous occasions for similar attempts,” he said.
“40 gold biscuits and gold jewellery weighing one kilogramme wrapped to his legs into five parcels using cellophane tape,” he said.
The detection was done based on information received by Customs Intelligence Unit’s Deputy Superintendents Nuwan Abeynayake and Rasika Samanjith.
The operation was assisted by Assistant Superintendents Hirun Gunasiri, Prasad Gunawardena, Danushka Alahakoon and Malshan Perera.
Further investigations are being carried out under the guidance of Mr Saman Ranawana Customs Additional Director General Gankewela and BIA Customs Director K.H.P. Kumarasiri. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
Pix by T.K.G Kapila