Gold smuggling to India: Woman held before flight

Colombo: A 51-year old woman, en-route to India. was arrested by the Airport Customs for attempting to smuggle out 16 gold buckles worth Rs. 4.8 million [Dh0.13m], ‘The Island’ reported on Wednesday.

Leslie Gaminim Sri Lanka Customs Director, told ‘The Island’ that the suspect from Ragama was to board a SriLankan Airlines flight UL 141, scheduled to take off on Monday night, 
when she was arrested with the smuggled goods hidden in a special compartment in her luggage. 

She had disclosed the name and the contact details of the person in Sri Lanka who wanted her to take the contraband to India, investigations had revealed.

“The investigations have been held back till we complete grilling the local suspect who had handed over the gold buckles to her and also to see whether there are more suspects involved. If that investigation cannot be completed, we will hand her over to the Katunayake Police,” he said.

Since India banned the import of gold, smuggling of gold to India had been on the increase of late and Gamini said that the suspect would not have been liable had she declared the cargo to the Sri Lankan Customs.

Though exports in commercial quantities are permitted, individuals carrying gold from Colombo have been prohibited.   

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