An Indian national has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake while attempting to smuggle a stock of foreign currency estimated to be worth over Rs 14.6 million.
The male passenger from Chennai was preparing to leave for Dubai at 6.40 p.m. last evening (26) when he was apprehended by Sri Lanka Customs at the transit Area of the airport.
Currency notes including 16,400 pound sterling, 50,700 Euros, 6,000 Canadian dollars, 45,500 Swedish Krona and 3,000 Danish krone were found inside the passenger’s luggage.
The stock of foreign currency was decaled forfeit following the customs inquiry.
Meanwhile in a separate detection customs officials on duty at the arrival lounge of the BIA apprehended a cabin crew member of a flight which arrived from Madurai at 11.15 a.m. yesterday while attempting to smuggle in gold jewellery.
Gold jewellery weighing 3999.02 grams and valued at Rs 22,994,365 were found concealed in his traveling bag, the customs spokesman said.
