Ten people, including two women, have been taken into custody along with 3.930 kilograms of gold and Rs. 16.9 million in cash during a raid at a hotel in Madawala, Ada Derana reported, citing police.
The operation was carried out by the Wattegama Police, who recovered the gold and cash during the search. The value of the seized gold alone runs into tens of millions of rupees at current market rates, on top of the recovered cash.
Police did not immediately confirm the origin of the gold and money or the nature of the activity being conducted at the hotel. Investigators were working to determine whether the haul was connected to smuggling, illegal gold trading, or other offences.
The suspects were expected to be produced before court as the investigation continued. Seizures of unexplained gold and large cash sums have become a recurring feature of police operations as authorities crack down on illicit trade and money movement.
