Arrival terminal, not Apple Store: Customs halt phone haul

January 18, 2026 at 7:46 PM

A 45-year-old Sri Lankan businessman from Dematagoda was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle in 390 mobile phones.

The phones, with a total value exceeding Rs. 34 million, were being brought into the country without the necessary approval from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), according to Sri Lanka Customs.

Authorities are conducting further investigations (NewsWire)