An individual has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle gold worth over Rs. 11.8 million into the country without a permit and without declaring it to Customs.
The suspect, a 53-year-old businessman from Matale, arrived at the airport from Dubai onboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL-226 yesterday (08), Ada Derana reporter said.
Officers attached to the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau had intercepted the passenger while he was attempting to leave the airport.
Upon inspection of his luggage, the officer had discovered 12 gold necklaces, 10 gold bracelets and two gold biscuits weighing a total of 271.480 grams, which had been concealed inside his luggage.
The suspect was later handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Naikanda earlier today (09) for further investigations.
Following investigations, the consignment of gold was confiscated by Customs, while the passenger was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 1 million, officials stated.
