Youth nabbed with gold at BIA

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Customs officials inspecting seized gold jewellery Picture by Kumarasiri Prasad

An attempt by a Sri Lankan youth to smuggle gold worth over Rs.10 million in to the country was foiled by Customs officials at the Bandranaike International Airport. The youth who arrived aboard a flight from Singapore had wrapped both gold jewellery and biscuits around his knees with the aid of knee guards and was trying to smuggle them into the country using the green channel at the airport to escape detection, a Customs official said.

The green channel is for passengers who do not have dutiable items in their possession and has been established to ensure passenger convenience and minimize congestion.

The official said that the youth’s suspicious behaviour had alerted two officers who had later detected the gold during a body search on the passenger.

The 21-year youth, a resident of Colombo had 1,540 grams of gold jewelery and 200 grams of gold biscuits in his possession, he added. Following an inquiry the Customs officials had taken steps to confiscate the gold. Inquiries in this regard are continuing.

The detection had been made by Assistant Superintendents of Customs H. M. M. Herath and Ajith Illeysinghe. Inquiries are being conducted under the instructions of Director General of Customs Dr. Neville Gunewardena. Directors of Customs Leslie Gamini, K.R.Seneviratne, S.S.Premaratne and Customs Superintendent Nihal Alahapperuma are carrying out investigations.