An international gold smuggling racket has been busted by the Sri Lanka Customs, making it the largest gold detection to be made in Sri Lanka.
Customs officials seized 17 kilos of gold biscuits worth over Rs. 220 million at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on Saturday.
A janitor employed at the airport had been arrested following investigations conducted by officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit.
The suspect was arrested after attempting to sneak out the stock of gold that had been left in the toilet by an arriving passenger, by concealing it in a floor polishing machine.
Investigations have revealed that the stock of gold had been covered in polythene and had been concealed inside the drain of a toilet, which had later been collected by the janitor.
The janitor was caught with 161 gold biscuits after he was stopped and searched by authorities on suspicion.
Customs officials had thereafter found another three parcels containing 1.5 kilos of gold jewellery from another toilet in the Arrivals Terminal last morning.
Investigations have revealed that the stock of gold might have been concealed by the same arrival passenger.
The janitor has been detained for further investigations. (NewsWire)