A joint search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Special Task Force (STF) led to the seizure of approximately 9,000 foreign cigarettes and the arrest of a suspect in Wattala on Feb. 17, 2026.

Navy personnel attached to SLNS Gemunu under the Western Naval Command carried out the operation in coordination with the Gonahena Police STF in the Handala area of Wattala.

During the search, officers inspected a suspicious three-wheeler and discovered a stock of foreign cigarettes allegedly being transported illegally.

The suspect, a 48-year-old resident of Wattala, was taken into custody. He was handed over to the Wattala Police along with the seized cigarettes and the three-wheeler for further legal action. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy and Police apprehended 02 individuals in possession of about 1560 foreign cigarettes, during a coordinated operation conducted in the Aluthkade area of Colombo, yesterday (08 Jan).

According to the Navy, the joint raid was conducted by naval personnel from SLNS Rangalla in the Western Naval Command, in collaboration with the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Unit of the Police. 

During the operation, 02 suspicious persons were interrogated, leading to the discovery and seizure of approximately 1,560 foreign cigarettes intended for illegal sale.

The suspects, aged 34 and 48, were identified as residents of Colombo 12. 

The arrested individuals and the seized stock of cigarettes were handed over to the Keselwatta Police Station for onward legal action. (Newswire)

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Three Sri Lankan nationals have been arrested at the Katunayake Airport today (27) for attempting to smuggle in foreign cigarettes, worth Rs. 45.8 million.

The three men were found to have concealed the stock of foreign cigarettes in 15 pieces of luggage.

Sri Lanka Customs officials had arrested the trio after they had attempted to use the ‘Green Channel’, which is for passengers with nothing to declare.

The suspects, aged 24, 28, and 30, had reportedly purchased the cigarettes in Dubai and had transported them to Sri Lanka via Doha. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs has seized a haul of 2,239,400 sticks of foreign cigarettes, valued at around Rs. 50 million.

The stock of foreign cigarettes was seized from the Air Cargo Village in Katunayake.

According to Sri Lanka Customs, this is the largest ever cigarette bust from an Air Cargo Village. (Newswire)

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Three individuals, including a Customs Officer, have been arrested for attempting to smuggle in foreign cigarettes worth Rs. 9 million. 

The suspects had been arrested while attempting to leave the Katunayake Airport with the cigarettes. 

A businessman and his assistant had arrived from Dubai along with the foreign cigarettes. 

The Customs Officer had then entered the airport with his official identification card and attempted to take the consignment of cigarettes out of the airport.

However, officials from the Police Narcotics Unit (PNB) foiled their plan, arresting them at the airport premises. 

The PNB officials had seized 300 cartons of foreign cigarettes from the suspects’ possession. 

The suspects are due to be produced before Negombo magistrate’s Court today. (Newswire)

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A suspect has been arrested in Colombo while transferring 2000 foreign cigarettes for sale, the Sri Lanka Navy stated. 

The man was arrested following a coordinated operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police on Malwatta Road, Colombo 11 on Wednesday (May 31).

The Navy said in a statement that upon receiving information, SLNS Rangalla belonging to the Western Naval Command and the Dam Street Police conducted a special search operation on Malwatta Road on Wednesday.

During the operation, they apprehended the suspicious individual, while he was carrying 2000 foreign cigarettes for sale.

The suspect is a 49-year-old resident of Matara. The suspect together with the seized foreign cigarettes has been handed over to the Dam Street Police for legal action. (NewsWire)

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