Sri Lanka Customs has arrested a 79-year-old Spanish national after detecting nearly 2.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his delayed baggage at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
According to Customs, the suspect, an agricultural engineer, arrived in Sri Lanka from Sierra Leone on July 22, travelling via Addis Ababa and Doha on Qatar Airways flight QR654.
His hand luggage was initially inspected, but nothing suspicious was found. As his checked baggage had not arrived on the same flight, he was allowed to leave the airport after completing the required formalities.
The delayed baggage subsequently arrived in Sri Lanka, and the passenger returned to the BIA Arrival Terminal at around 6.30 p.m. on July 24 to collect it.
Before releasing the baggage, officers of the Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit screened it using an X-ray scanner and detected suspicious contents.
A subsequent search uncovered four packets containing cocaine concealed inside two file holders.
Customs said the seized cocaine weighed 2.198 kilograms and had an estimated street value of approximately Rs. 109.9 million.
Preliminary investigations have been launched, while the suspect and the seized narcotics are to be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations and legal action. (Newswire)
