A Chinese national has been arrested for allegedly smuggling a stock of cigarettes manufactured in China, worth approximately Rs. 3 million, into Sri Lanka through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The suspect, a 38-year-old Chinese national employed as a technician, was arrested by officers of the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) last night (21) while he was attempting to leave the airport with the cigarettes.
The suspect had purchased the cigarettes in China and travelled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport at around 10.30 p.m. yesterday onboard AirAsia flight AK-047, Ada Derana reporter said.
Upon inspection, officials had discovered 100 cartons containing a total of 20,000 sticks of Chinese-manufactured cigarettes concealed inside his luggage.
The suspect and the illegally imported cigarettes are scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (22) for further investigations.
