BIA customs catch Tunisian with largest haul of cocaine detected up to now

By Prabhath Withana

Customs officers yesterday nabbed a Tunisian national at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with a stock of cocaine with a street value of about Rs. 180 million.

 According to Customs officers it was the largest haul of cocaine an air-passenger ever sought to smuggle in.

 The 59-year-old suspect was arrested by officers of the Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit when arrived in the country with 4.5 kilos concealed inside his luggage.

 The passenger coming from Doha via Brazil, reportedly posed as a top official at an international financial institution; he also presented several forged documents to bolster his claim.

The Customs officials had also taken into custody a driver and a van that came to the airport to pick up the Tunisian, Customs Spokesman Deputy Customs Director Sudaththa Silva said.

The suspects and the seized drugs were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau.