Agencies seize Rs.35Mn worth Ice, whiskey, fags from Indian, local passengers at BIA

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The law enforcement agencies manning the Bandaranaike International Airport thwarted attempts by a Sri Lankan and Indian national to smuggle Ice, whiskey and cigarettes worth over Rs.35 million into the country in two separate cases during the last 48 hours.   

Sri Lanka Customs officials stationed at the BIA Arrival Terminal on suspicion stopped an inbound passenger from Malaysia on Wednesday evening and found one kilogram of Ice (methamphetamine) in his baggage.   

The traveler identified to be an Indian national had arrived in Katunayake at 17.00 hours on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 315 from Kuala Lumpur.  

Customs Spokesperson Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda said the officials found the narcotics valued at Rs.25 million concealed in a batch of saris.  

Customs Narcotic Control Unit officials who conducted the preliminary inquiries had handed over the foreigner along with the drugs to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) for further investigations.   

Meanwhile, a local traveler returning from Dubai was intercepted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials at the BIA Arrival Terminal for attempting to smuggle in a large stock of foreign liquor and cigarettes.   

The 31-year-old passenger who was identified to be a resident of Nuwara Eliya had arrived in the country on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 226 on Wednesday 5.25 hours.   
The sleuths seized 69 bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label and Ballantine’s whiskey along with 2,380 sticks of Manchester and Benson and Hedges cigarettes from his baggage. The contraband had been valued at Rs.10 million, the police sources said.   

The local passenger had been identified as a constant traveler who engaged in trading goods. He was to be handed over to the BIA Customs officials for further inquiries.   
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