A Sri Lankan passenger has been apprehended at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake while attempting to smuggle gold biscuits worth over Rs 7.1 million into the country.

The 50-year-old from Mabola had arrived from Singapore at 10.30 pm last night (10) was detained by the officers of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit at the Green Channel of the airport’s arrival area.

He had attempted to smuggle gold biscuits weighing 1.1 kg and worth approximately Rs 7,150,000 into Sri Lanka.

The gold biscuits were declared forfeit and a penalty of Rs 500,000 was imposed on the passenger after the formal customs inquiry.

A 56-year-old female passenger from Kotte who had arrived from Singapore on the same flight at 10.30 pm yesterday (10) was also apprehended while attempting to smuggle 3 gold biscuits weighing 300g and valued at Rs 1,750,000.

The gold was declared forfeit and a penalty of Rs 20,000 was imposed after the formal Customs Inquiry.

Meanwhile in a separate detection another Sri Lankan passenger, a 46-year-old from Kandy, who had arrived from Singapore at 11.45 pm last night (10) was also apprehended by the officers of Customs Narcotic Control Unit at the BIA while attempting to smuggle gold biscuits weighing 1.1 kg and worth Rs 7,150,000 into the country.

The gold biscuits were declared forfeit and a penalty of Rs 25,000 was imposed by the Customs Inquiry Officer.