Two foreign passengers have been arrested by Customs officers at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, early this morning (April 24) for allegedly bringing a large consignment of China-manufactured cigarettes into Sri Lanka illegally.
Customs officials said the seized cigarettes are valued at Rs. 4.26 million.
The suspects were arrested while attempting to exit through the “Green Channel” in the arrival terminal without declaring the goods.
The arrested individuals are Bangladeshi nationals, aged 35 and 53, who are reportedly engaged in casual labour abroad.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that a Chinese national had purchased the cigarette consignment in China and transported it via Cambodia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. From there, the stock was brought to BIA on a Malaysia Airlines flight.
It is further reported that the cigarettes were then handed over to the 02 Bangladeshi nationals to be smuggled out of the airport.
Upon inspection, Customs officers discovered 28,400 China-manufactured cigarettes packed in 412 cartons and concealed within 05 pieces of luggage carried by the suspects.
Further investigations are underway.
2 foreigners nabbed at BIA with smuggled cigarettes
