5 held at Colombo airport in forex smuggling case

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake have apprehended five people who were attempting to smuggle large amounts of foreign currency out of the country.

The suspects were arrested as a result of a lengthy investigation by the Narcotics Control Unit of Sri Lanka Customs.

A spokesman said that foreign currency valued at around Rs. 25 million were found concealed inside the luggage of the arrested suspects, who were preparing to board a flight to Dubai.

The foreign currency seized from them includes 95,000 US dollars, 18,000 euros and 37,000 Saudi Riyals.

Sri Lanka Customs is conducting further investigations into the suspects.