Mattala detection biggest of its kind

Jewellery, gems valued at Rs. 30 m:

Rasika Somarathna

The first smuggling attempt detected at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) on Wednesday is also one of the biggest detections of its kind, Customs officials said valuing the seized gold jewellery and gems at over Rs. 30 million.

A Sri Lankan businessman returning from Thailand was arrested at MRIA by Customs sleuths on Wednesday after they detected a large quantity of gold and gems in his possession. After valuing the goods yesterday Gamini said the siezed items contained 2,326 grams of gold valued at Rs.23 million, gem stones (241 grams) with a value of Rs.0.6 million, diamonds(3.29 grams) worth Rs.2.79 million, American diamonds (4077 grams) worth 2.72 million and 500 numbers of pearls valued at Rs.30,957.