Indian nabbed with USD 67,000 at BIA

A 50-year-old Indian National was arrested yesterday morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle out Rs.10.3 million worth of foreign currency, Deputy Customs Director and Customs media spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya said.

Speaking to Daily Mirror he said the money was found hidden in his hand luggage in two bundles.

The passenger was arrested with the 67,000 US Dollars while he was about to board a flight bound for Bangkok, he said.“the passenger was an Indian National and used to work in Bangkok as a businessman for ten years. The money was declared as belonging to him, which according to him was obtained legally,” he said.

During questioning, the passenger was unable to provide sufficient evidence to prove that the money he had on him was obtained legally, he said, adding that after his first attempt failed he had changed his story saying he had won the money in a casino.

According to Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 published by the Central Bank it was prohibited to take large amounts of foreign currency out of the country. The suspect had been released on a Personal Guarantee.

Investigations were being carried out under the guidance of Customs Director O.M Jabeer, Deputy Director O.J Obesekera and Customs Superintendent S. Ravikumaran.