Customs officials at the Katunayake Airport arrested a 35‑year‑old Chinese national today (20) after he attempted to smuggle nearly 230,000 foreign cigarettes through the Green Channel.

It is reported that the suspect had arrived from China via Bangkok and used the assistance of three airport porters to conceal 229,800 cigarettes inside 13 pieces of luggage. 

The consignment, valued at approximately Rs. 35 million, was intercepted by Customs officers.

After handing over the luggage, the suspect tried to flee through the Green Channel but was pursued and apprehended by officials in the airport vehicle yard. 

The cigarette stock has been confiscated, and further investigations are underway. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs is looking at the possibility of using equipment with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to detect illegally smuggled goods inside containers, Customs Media Spokesperson and Additional Director, Seevali Arukgoda said. 

Speaking to reporters, Seevali Arukgoda said the Customs Department is considering obtaining AI scanners or X-ray machines to detect illegal goods.

He further said that discussions are already underway with manufacturers of such devices. 

Meanwhile, over 8.7 million cigarette sticks, valued at Rs. 1.2 billion, which had been illegally smuggled from abroad in 2018, 2022, and 2024 were destroyed today. 

The stocks of illegal cigarettes had been seized by Sri Lanka Customs and had been stored in three containers.

The stock was handed over to the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) to be destroyed at its head office in Colombo today. (Newswire)

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A 36-year-old man has been arrested at the Katunayake Airport for attempting to smuggle in 50 cartons of prohibited cigarettes. 

According to the Police, the suspect had arrived at the Katunayake Airport from Muscat, Oman on Sunday morning and had been inspected by officials from the Police Narcotics Bureau at the Airport.

During the inspection, the Police officials found 10,000 sticks of banned cigarettes in the suspect’s possession.

The man has been identified as a resident of Beruwala. 

Officials from the Police Narcotics Bureau at the Airport are conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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