Indian national nabbed while attempting to smuggle Sri Lankan currency worth Rs 700,000

An Indian national has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)  while attempting to smuggle Sri Lankan currency worth Rs 700,000 into the country today (Feb 14).

The arrest was made by customs officials who were on duty at the time of the arrest, Acting Customs Spokesman Vipuli Minuwanpitiya said.

The suspect has been identified as a 37-year old small-scale businessman and a resident of Tamil Nadu. He is reported to have left his native country at around 12:45 am today and had reached Sri Lanka in a Spice Jet air carrier.

Cutoms officials had seized 140 notes each valued at Rs 5000 which were in the possession of the suspect.

Further investigations on the suspect are currently being carried out under the instructions of BIA Customs Director M.A. Karunaratne.

Deputy Customs Director Chamika Munmullage who had carried out a formal investigation into the arrest had confiscated the currencies which were in the possession of the suspect.