Lankan nabbed at airport with Rs. 48 m worth of foreign currency

Friday, 13 February 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Customs officials yesterday arrested a Sri Lankan national at the departure lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake for attempting to smuggle out foreign currency worth over Rs. 48 million. According to the Customs officials, the 36-years-old male, who arrived at the airport to board a flight to Dubai through Qatar by Qatar Airways flight QR 663, had aroused suspicion and upon being searched the foreign currency was found. The suspect from Mattakkuliya, Colombo had undeclared foreign currency estimated to be valued at Rs. 48,309,692 concealed in his travelling bag. The concealed money reportedly included Kuwait Dinar 950, Japanese Yen 110,000, Qatar Riyal 48,500, Saudi Riyal 802,000, American Dollar 72,000, Euro 450, UK Pound 30,000 and UAE Dirham 33,500. Investigations are being carried out by the Assistant Superintendent of Customs, Thilanka Samaraweera, Muditha Vithana, Lakmal Tennakoon, Duncan Hettiarachchi, and Sanduli Madonza. – Pic by Kumarasiri Prasad