Lankan nabbed at BIA with Rs.1.2 mn. worth gold jewellery

A 27-year-old Sri Lankan passenger was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with two parcels of gold jewellery worth Rs.1.2 million, Customs Deputy Director and Media Spokesman Sunil Jayarathne said.

He said the suspect was arrested at the Customs Green Channel’s goods scanner.

“The jewellery parcels were found in his baggage among his used clothing and some other personal materials. During the scan at the Green Channel, the Customs officers had asked him whether he has any valuables to declare to which he had answered in the negative, but, when the baggage was passing through the scanner, two parcels were shown on the screen. Then the suspect had told the officers that he had a parcel of gold jewellery which had been given by his uncle in Saudi to him to take home. Later the Customs officers got the other gold parcel as well,” Mr. Jayarathne said.

The suspect had arrived from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday evening. The two parcels of jewellery were weighing 255grms and worth Rs. 1,275,400. He was a resident of alaichchenai in the Eastern Province, he said.

The gold Jewellery was detected by Assistant Customs Superintendents M. M. P. Gunathilake, T. S. S. Dhanapala, M. W. A. T. M. Wijesooriya, and H. M. D. P. Herath.

Investigations were carried out under the supervision of Customs Deputy Director Duminda Weerakkodi,

The gold jewellery was confiscated by the Deputy Customs Director Duminda Weerakkody and imposed a penalty of Rs.100,000. Later the suspect was released.

The jewellery parcels were found in his baggage among his used clothing and some other personal materials