Airline passenger nabbed with gold

Kumarasiri Prasad- Airport correspondent

An inbound airline passenger who tried to smuggle a stock of gold jewellery valued at nearly Rs 12.5 million was detected by officers of the Sri Lanka Customs Drug Control Unit at the Bandaranaike International Airport as he tried to leave the airport through the green channel in the wee hours yesterday.

A Customs spokesman said the jewellery which included gold chains, bangles and rings weighed 2,126 grammes.

As the passenger tried to leave through the no declaration green channel Customs Superintendents D D S C Michael and M K Udaya Gamini subjected him to a random check on suspicion and detected the jewellery in a travel bag and trouser pocket and some hidden inside knee guards worn by him.

Customs Superintendent Nihal Alahapperuma said investigations revealed that the suspect is a businessman resident in Batticaloa who made frequent foreign trips. Investigations are continuing directed by Customs Deputy Director Lalitha Weerasinghe.