Customs officers at Bandaranaike International Airport intercepted a major cigarette smuggling attempt in the early hours of December 19, leading to the arrest of a Sri Lankan woman arriving from Dubai.
Customs officers at Bandaranaike International Airport intercepted a major cigarette smuggling attempt in the early hours of December 19, leading to the arrest of a Sri Lankan woman arriving from Dubai.
The detection was made when the passenger attempted to pass through the Green Channel, designated for travelers without dutiable or restricted items. A routine inspection of her baggage uncovered a large quantity of undeclared foreign-made cigarettes.
The woman, identified as a 49-year-old businesswoman from the Bandarawela area, had arrived in the country at around 12.45 a.m. on Fly Dubai flight FZ-569.
Customs officials discovered 118 cartons containing a total of 23,600 “Platinum” brand cigarettes concealed in her suitcase. The seized consignment is estimated to be worth approximately Rs. 354,000.
The cigarettes have been confiscated, and Airport Customs officers have launched further investigations into the smuggling attempt.
