Indian police detained a Sri Lankan at Chennai airport after he attempted to smuggle 2,060 diamonds and other precious stones by carrying them in his stomach, the Times of India newspaper reported.
The stones, valued at between $337,000 and 670,000, were packed in 42 condoms in the abdominal cavity of the detainee en route from Colombo to the south Indian city of Chennai.
The Sri Lankan, identified as Mohamed Rafi, 35, successfully cleared customs and immigration and was approached by the police as he left the airport and was about to board a taxi.
During police questioning Rafi did not sit upright in his chair. saying it was because he suffered from piles. Police grew suspicious and took him to hospital.
A medical examination revealed that Rafi had very valuable contents in his stomach. It took the police some six hours to recover the stones from Rafi in a natural way as they fed him with bananas and laxatives.
Rafi later confessed that he was paid for the job 10,000 rupees (some $225) only and it was his fourth such smuggling run from Colombo to Chennai.
Police have launched an investigation and will later hand over Rafi to the customs service.
MOSCOW, October 29 (RIA Novosti)
