A Sri Lankan passenger attempting to smuggle a consignment of foreign-made cigarettes and beedi worth Rs. 238,000 through Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was arrested in the early hours today by officers from the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau.
The suspect, a 33-year-old motor mechanic from Walallawita, Matugama, had arrived on Indigo Airlines flight 6.E.-1173 from Chennai, India at 12:40 a.m.
Authorities said he had concealed 60 cartons containing 12,000 “Manchester” cigarettes and 19 bundles of 23,800 Indian-made “Seyyadu” beedis among toys, saris, shirts, and other items in four suitcases.
The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on January 21.
