Two Lankans nabbed with 29 gold nuggets

Two Sri Lankans who attempted to board flights to India after having swallowed gold 29 gold nuggets had been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by Customs Officials on February 19, Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

The suspects were aged 36 and 44 from Colombo 10 and Meegoda area.

The X –Ray images later revealed about 15 and 14 pieces of gold nuggets in each individual, he said.

The suspects were admitted to the Negombo hospital under the supervision of Prisons officers on the orders of Negombo Magistrate, he said.

“The suspects were kept at the hospital until they passed out the contraband with excreta,” he said.

He said that the suspects had been given laxatives at the hospital and the last piece of gold was obtained today.

Each individual had swallowed nuggets weighing 378grammes and 350grammes. The value of the gold was estimated at Rs.3,785,600, Leslie Gamini said. (Chaturanga Pradeep)