Sri Lankan passenger has been fined Rs. 3.7 million after being arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold jewellery out of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The 51-year-old businessman, a resident of Pallekele, Kandy, arrived at BIA at around 9.30 a.m. yesterday (03) on Emirates flight EK-650 from Dubai.
Airport Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officers arrested the passenger after discovering 996 grammes of gold jewellery concealed on his body in four parcels.
The jewellery was estimated to be worth more than Rs. 36.5 million.
The passenger and the jewellery were subsequently handed over to Sri Lanka Customs officials at BIA for further investigations.
Following a Customs inquiry that continued until around 4.45 a.m. today (04), the jewellery was ordered to be confiscated, while the passenger was fined Rs. 3.7 million.
