A Chinese businessman has been arrested by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, earlier today (21) while attempting to smuggle a large consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes into the country.
The suspect had allegedly tried to transport the cigarettes through the airport’s “Green Channel,” designated for passengers with nothing to declare.
According to Customs, the passenger arrived at BIA at around 1:00 a.m. onboard a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok, Thailand, having travelled from China via Bangkok.
A search of his luggage had revealed 440 cartons containing 88,000 sticks of Chinese-manufactured cigarettes concealed inside.
The seized stock is estimated to be worth approximately Rs. 13 million, Ada Derana reporter said.
Customs officials have taken the suspect into custody and are conducting further investigations into the incident.
