Colombo - A Sri Lankan man who raised
suspicion by the way he kept looking around in an airport
departure lounge was found to be carrying nearly a kilogram (2.2
lb) of gold stashed in his rectum, a customs official said on
Monday.
The 45-year-old, headed for India, was arrested at Colombo
airport on Sunday after customs officials noticed "suspicious
movements", customs spokesman Sunil Jayarathne told Reuters.
The suspect was carrying 904.77 grams of gold worth 4.5
million rupees ($29 577), but was freed after payment of 100 000
rupees, he said. Such methods of smuggling were not unusual, he
said.
"The gold was wrapped in plastic bags inserted in to his
rectum," Jayarathne said, adding that there were four bags.
"This is not the first such detection and this is a common
method of smuggling."