SriLankan employee nabbed with gold worth Rs. 32 mn

A 23-year-old employee of SriLankan Airlines was arrested by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last morning while attempting to smuggle out gold biscuits worth Rs. 32 million.

Customs Director and Acting Spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya told the Daily Mirror that the suspect from Wattala was arrested by the Customs Narcotic Control Unit at the exit gate of the departure lounge.

The customs officers found the gold biscuits weighing four kilogrammes strapped onto the lower parts of his legs each with ten biscuits, he said.

He said the gold biscuits were confiscated and the suspect was imposed a fine of Rs.1 million.

Investigations were carried out under the guidance of Additional Director General of Customs-Regional Saman Ranawana, Airport Customs Director M.A. Karunarathne and by Deputy Directors K.H.P Kumarasiri,V. Minuvanpitiya Customs Superintendent H.D.G Sumathipala (Narcotic Control Deputy Superintendents Nuwan Abenayake, Sri Lal Wijewardhane H.Guruge, A.K.R Samanjith and Assistant Superintendents K.H.D.D. Weligampitiya, J.H.H.P Gunasiri. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama and T.K.G. Kapila)