Two Indian nationals and a Sri Lankan have been arrested by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle out jewellery, gold biscuits and foreign currency worth Rs. 190 million.
The suspects had gold jewellery weighing 8.5 kilograms, gold biscuits cut into halves as well as USD 75, 000 and 18, 000 Euros in their possession. They had been hidden in false bottoms in their traveling bags and pockets sewed into their shirts and trousers.
The two Indian nationals who were arrested, aged 53 and 42 years, have been operating as couriers smuggling gold and foreign currency between the two countries for a long time, Customs officials have unearthed.
The 46-year-old Sri Lankan suspect is a businessman who regularly shuttles between India and Sri Lanka, they added.
Text and Pix by T.K.G. Kapila
Customs have detected 228 mobile phones and tabs valued at over Rs 30 million left behind in the duty free shopping complex at the Banaranaike International Airport today, Customs officials said.
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