• Customs officials at the BIA Departure Terminal on suspicion searched a passenger bound for Dubai had found a stash of US dollars concealed in his baggage
• The officials had found US$ 95,000, Euro 18,000 and Saudi Riyal 37,000 from five more suspects bound to the same destination

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

An attempt to smuggle foreign currency worth Rs.25 million by five men bound for Dubai was thwarted by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday.   

Officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit station at the BIA Departure Terminal on suspicion searched a passenger bound for Dubai and found a stash of US dollars concealed in his baggage.   

Having questioned the suspect the sleuths arrested four more persons who were bound for the same destination and found more stashes of foreign currency.   

According to Customs Spokesman Deputy Director Sudaththa Silva, the officials found US$ 95,000, Euro 18,000 and Saudi Riyal 37,000 from the suspects’ possession.   

They were to board an Emirates flight EK649 bound for Dubai yesterday morning. The suspects are being detained for further investigations.