Bid to clear parcels containing 10.5 kg of heroin: Three arrested at BIA

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Three persons were apprehended at the cargo terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at Katunayake yesterday while they were attempting to clear eight parcels of towels with 10.5 kilos of heroin concealed therein. The estimated street value of the seized heroin is approximately Rs 270 million.

The drug consignment dispatched from Lahore, Pakistan reached the BIA air cargo terminal, on November 10. The intended recipient was a goods importing company based in Thihariya, Nittambuwa, as confirmed by the Customs.

The Customs nabbed a 43-year-old person from Colombo 05 who arrived to clear the cargo on Tuesday night (21).

Following the detection of drugs, the Customs Narcotics Control Unit and a Customs officer at the Air Cargo Terminal arrested the person who claimed the cargo and two wharf clerks involved in its clearance.

The suspects with the consignment of heroin were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.