• According to Customs Spokesman Deputy Director Sudaththa Silva the seized gold plates had been valued at Rs.160 mn

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

An attempt to smuggle in gold worth over Rs.172 million by four passengers coming from Muscat in Oman was foiled by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday.

 The Customs Narcotic Control Unit officials stationed at the BIA Arrival Terminal searched a female and two male passengers on suspicion and found three gold plates carefully concealed in their individual baggage’s, which  altogether weighed around 7.5Kgs.

The passengers who had arrived on Oman Air flight WY 371 from Muscat had landed in Colombo at around 7.40am yesterday and had tried to leave the airport through the green channel, when they were detected with the contraband.

 According to Customs Spokesman Deputy Director Sudaththa Silva the seized gold plates had been valued at Rs.160 million.

Meanwhile, another male passenger who had come on the same flight was taken into custody whilst trying to smuggle in gold jewelery concealed in his rectum.

The sleuths found gold weighing close to about one kilo, which had been valued at Rs.12 million. Customs Narcotic Control Unit is conducting further inquiries.