Katunayake T. K. G. KapilaA group of officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Division arrested a monk who had jewellery worth Rs.6,915,000 in his suitcase and was trying taking it out of the Katunayake Airport on Thursday evening at the Customs premises of the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake.
The 58-year-old monk was a resident of Buddhist Center, Siripura, Dehiattakandiya.The Bikkhu had arrived at the Katunayake airport from Doha on Qatar Airways Flight Number QR 654 at about 4.40 in the evening on September 22.The monk had told the Customs officials that a person whom he got to know during the flight had given him the jewellery and asked him to take it out of the airport for him.
Customs officers who took action immediately were able to find the air passenger and took him into custody as well.He is a 44-year-old businessman of Wellampitiya.”The jewellery weighing one kilogram and 993 grams included chains, bangles, rings and earrings,” Customs officials said.
The formal Customs investigations into this incident was conducted by Deputy Customs Director G.W.P. Wijewardena and the Bikkhu who were involved in the incident were released. He ordered the stock of illegally brought in jewellery to be confiscated and ordered the businessman from Wellampitiya to pay a fine of Rs.5,000.
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