By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo, November 13 (Daily Mirror) - A 32-year-old Sierra Leone national who attempted to smuggle in cocaine worth nearly Rs. 13 million through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was arrested on suspicion of trafficking narcotics.

The suspect, arrived at the BIA on Turkish Airlines Flight TK 730 from Istanbul and was intercepted by officers from the Narcotics Control Unit while passing through the airport's green channel.

Meanwhile, Customs officers, acting on suspicion of drug concealment, conducted a body scan on the passenger and revealed that he had swallowed capsules of narcotics.

The suspect was admitted to the Negombo Hospital and 17 pellets believed to contain narcotics have been recovered.

Accordingly, He has confessed to swallowing additional pellets, which are being monitored.

The total street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be around Rs. 13 million.

The Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit has sought assistance from the Police Narcotics Bureau, and for further investigations into the incident.