A fine has been imposed on an employee of a duty-free shop at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for involvement in attempt to smuggle out gold biscuits worth Rs 10 millions from the airport through a Sri Lankan passenger.
Customs Media Spokesperson Sunil Jayaratne told media the duty-free shop in question was also sealed following the incident.
The employee of the duty-free shop at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was fine Rs 9.4 million. He is a 36-year-old resident of the Embilipitiya area.
After hiding the gold biscuits inside an airtight container used to package an electric fan, the shop worker had handed it over to a local passenger who had returned to the country from Australia.
Reports said the passenger had been to the duty-free shop in question to purchase some electric equipment. Deputy Director of Customs has ordered to confiscate the contraband containing 99 gold biscuits worth Rs. 100 million.
Investigation are underway to determine if there are any other duty-free shop workers involved in the said racket.
The passenger, who had received the box containing gold biscuits, was apprehended by the officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) attached to the Airport at the arrival terminal.
The Customs spokesperson urged passengers not to accept parcels, luggage, and packages given to them by brokers and unknown persons while at the airport.
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