5 March 2024 12:00 am Views - 190
By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana
An office assistant attached to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) who tried to smuggle in gold gel and jewellery worth over Rs.200 million was nabbed by Sri Lanka Customs yesterday morning.
Customs Narcotic Control Unit officials on suspicion searched the worker attached to the Airport and Aviation Services trying to leave the airport around 8.00 am yesterday carrying a backpack.
The officials found gold gel, jewellery and gold plates similar to credit cards weighing over nine kilograms and 200 grams, the Customs sources said.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspect had received the bag of gold from a transit passenger.
The officials by using the CCTV cameras have found that an Indian national among transit passengers handing over the bag to the airport peon. The passenger had then left the country.
Customs Spokesman Senior Director Seevali Arukgoda said the Narcotic Control Unit officials have detained the suspect to record a statement.
He was to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Unit at the BIA.