Customs Archives - Newswire

Foreign woman arrested with Rs. 10 Mn worth of cocaine at BIA

On: July 18, 2026

Customs Narcotics Control Unit officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport arrested a 54‑year‑old Angolan woman in possession of 237 gramsContinue Reading

Sri Lankan passenger arrested at BIA with illegal flower plants

On: July 16, 2026

Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have arrested a Sri Lankan woman attempting to illegally transport a stockContinue Reading

CID probe into alleged luxury vehicle racket linked to former President’s son

On: July 1, 2026

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a special investigation into an alleged luxury vehicle smuggling racket involving a sonContinue Reading

Foreigner arrested at BIA with Rs. 4.2 Million worth of cigarettes

On: June 29, 2026

Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have arrested a foreign national attempting to smuggle foreign cigarettesContinue Reading

Two women held with 30g of gold in Jaffna ferry smuggling probe

On: June 19, 2026

Nearly 30 grams of 24‑carat gold valued at approximately Rs. 2.8 million was found in the possession of two womenContinue Reading

Sri Lanka plans new customs policies to avoid 12.5% US tariffs – report

On: June 18, 2026

Sri Lanka plans to tighten customs screening to better identify imported goods made with forced labour and to implement internationalContinue Reading

Sri Lanka Customs surpasses May revenue target by 16%, five‑month collections up 44%

On: June 11, 2026

Sri Lanka Customs has outperformed its May revenue target, collecting Rs. 217.9 billion against the expected Rs. 187.8 billion, aContinue Reading

No significant drop in vehicle imports despite surcharge: Customs

On: June 8, 2026

Sri Lanka Customs says vehicle imports have not declined significantly despite the surcharge imposed earlier this year, with imported vehiclesContinue Reading

13 Chinese nationals nabbed at BIA with Rs. 28 Mn worth of cigarettes

On: June 2, 2026

Thirteen Chinese nationals have been taken into custody at the Katunayake Airport after officials seized a large stock of foreignContinue Reading

Three Chinese nationals arrested with Rs. 6.6 Mn worth of cigarettes at BIA

On: May 25, 2026

Customs officers at Katunayake Airport have arrested three Chinese businessmen for attempting to smuggle a large stock of foreign‑made cigarettesContinue Reading

Sri Lankan passengers nabbed smuggling Rs. 140 Million worth of Kush

On: May 18, 2026

Customs Narcotics Control officers at the Katunayake Airport today (18) arrested two Sri Lankan passengers attempting to smuggle a largeContinue Reading

Vehicle importers warn of sharp price hikes after 50% surcharge

On: May 16, 2026

The Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) has cautioned that the Government’s newly‑imposed 50% surcharge on vehicle imports willContinue Reading

Indian passenger arrested at BIA with Rs. 5 Mn worth of Cigarettes

On: May 15, 2026

Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have intercepted an Indian national attempting to smuggle foreign cigarettesContinue Reading

Wimal Liyanagama appointed new Customs Director General

On: May 5, 2026

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of Wimal S.K. Liyanagama as the new Director General of Customs, effectiveContinue Reading

Chinese national arrested at BIA with Rs. 35 Mn cigarette haul

On: April 20, 2026

Customs officials at the Katunayake Airport arrested a 35‑year‑old Chinese national today (20) after he attempted to smuggle nearly 230,000Continue Reading