Lankan nabbed with forex worth more than Rs.10 mn at BIA

A Singapore-bound Sri Lankan carrying foreign currency amounting to more than ten million rupees was nabbed by Customs officers at the Katunayake airport yesterday morning.

Customs Deputy Director and acting Spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya said the 58-year-old man was a resident of Negombo.

“The suspect was arrested at the departure lounge at 3.30 am by the officers of the customs Central Intelligence Directorate following his suspicious behaviour,” he said.

He was arrested with foreign currency, made up of 50,000 Euros, 5,000 US Dollars and 149 Singapore Dollars amounting to LKR 10,917,496 concealed inside the baggage, Mr Minuwanpitiya said.

The foreign currencies were confiscated and a penalty of Rs 100,000 was imposed on the suspect after the inquiry conducted by customs Deputy Director UK Asoka Ranjith, he said.

Further Investigations were carried out under the supervision of Customs Additional Director General Mr Stanley Senarathne and Airport Customs Director M.A Karunarathne Customs Director (Central Intelligence) KH Dharmakeerthi, Deputy Director of Customs U.K Asoka Ranjith along with customs Superintendent Senaka Arawpola and Staff attached to the Central Intelligence Directorate

“The suspect was arrested at the departure lounge at 3.30 am by the officers of the customs Central Intelligence Directorate following his suspicious behaviour,”