Rationale behind imposing massive fine of Rs.70Mn Intention was to retain French gold smuggler in SL for further investigations – Customs

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The rationale behind Customs imposing a massive fine of Rs.70 million on the French national who was intercepted at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle gold worth over Rs.80 million, was to retain him in Sri Lanka for further investigations, the Daily Mirror learns. 

Representatives from the French Embassy in Colombo had visited Customs Director General two days ago regarding the issue.    

A Customs official engaged in the inquiry who did not wish to be identified said the purpose of the massive fine imposed on the French national was to retain him in the country, as the latter would obviously be unable to pay it and leave.   

The Customs arrested the foreigner who had come from Dubai trying to bring in some gold jewellery and a bunch of gold bars painted in black carefully concealed in his baggage. Suspicions rose as to why the suspect had tried to enter into the country as he was a transit passenger and had only a 24-hour visa to remain in Sri Lanka.   the foreigner had visited Sri Lanka on six previous occasions and the authorities suspect that he had committed the same offense before. The authorities are trying to unravel the syndicate the French national is linked with and his local allies.   

• The purpose of the massive fine imposed on the French national was to  retain him in the country, as the latter would obviously be unable to  pay it and leave 
•  Authorities are trying to unravel the syndicate the French national is linked with and his local allies
• Representatives from the French Embassy in Colombo had visited Customs Director General two days ago regarding the issue