Sri Lanka, July 21 -- An Iranian national who attempted to flee to Europe via Sri Lanka, using a forged British passport, was arrested by officers of the Border Surveillance Unit of the Immigration and Emigration Department at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

The 47-year-old Iranian national had arrived at the BIA on Saturday to depart for Narita, Japan.

While he was clearing his flight procedures, airline officials became suspicious of his British passport and had reported him, along with all his documents, to the Border Surveillance Unit of the Immigration and Emigration Department.

During the technical checks carried out there, it was revealed that this passport was a forged one, and that he had paid US$15,000 (Sri Lank...