The suspects, aged 38 and 39, are gem businessmen from the Beruwala area. They were taken into custody last night (21) when they arrived at the airport around 10.20 p.m. to board China Airlines flight CA-426 bound for Chengdu, China.
Customs officers became suspicious of the two individuals during routine inspections. Subsequent searches led to the discovery of a consignment of gems concealed on their persons and inside their luggage.
The total value of the seized gemstones is estimated at approximately Rs. 32 million, Customs said.
Among the recovered items were 390 gemstones weighing a total of 756 carats, including varieties such as sapphire, red quartz, kanaka, vairodi and aranul.
Further investigations are being conducted by Sri Lanka Customs in connection with the attempted smuggling.
