Customs seize gold worth over Rs.43Mn with trader returning from Dubai

• The 35-year-old suspect a businessman in Colombo had tried to smuggle two kilos of gold strings

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) thwarted an attempt by a local trader returning from Dubai to smuggle in gold worth over Rs.43 million on Thursday night.   

Officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit stationed at the BIA Arrival Terminal searched a passenger on suspicion to find a large stock of gold strings carefully concealed in his baggage.   

Customs Spokesperson Senior Director Sudaththa Silva told the Daily Mirror the 35-year-old suspect a businessman in Colombo had tried to smuggle two kilos of gold strings. The goods had been valued at Rs.43 million (Rs.43, 000, 000).   

The Customs inquiry was conducted before the goods were forfeited and the suspect was released on a fine of Rs.1.2 million
(Rs.1, 200, 000).