A Sri Lankan passenger was arrested by airport customs officers in the early hours of April 14 for attempting to illegally bring a large stock of foreign-made cigarettes into the country through the Green Channel at the arrivals terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.
The suspect, a 42-year-old businessman from Marawila in Chilaw, had arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight at 12:52 a.m.
During the inspection, customs officials uncovered 155 cartons containing 31,000 foreign-made “Manchester” cigarettes, which had been carefully concealed inside four suitcases.
The total value of the seized cigarettes was estimated at Rs. 465,000.
Following a formal customs inquiry, officers confiscated the entire stock, and the suspect was fined Rs. 155,000 for the offence.
