A 40-year-old foreign national was intercepted by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle 39,400 foreign cigarettes into the country.
Customs said the suspect, a business employee who arrived from Chennai on IndiGo flight 6E1175 at around 11.45 a.m. on Friday (August 1), was stopped at the Green Channel on arrival.
Officials discovered 197 cartons of foreign cigarettes, equivalent to 39,400 sticks, concealed inside two pieces of luggage.
The seized cigarettes are estimated to be worth approximately Rs. 5.91 million.
Sri Lanka Customs ordered the forfeiture of the contraband. The suspect was released after paying a penalty of Rs. 250,000. (Newswire)