Chinese workers in BIA project nabbed with Rs. 6m worth of fags

11 March 2017 09:01 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Four Chinese workers attached to the runway renovation project at the Bandaranaike International Airport were nabbed by Customs while attempting to smuggle some Rs.6 million worth of foreign cigarettes into the country.

They were checked when attempting to use the 'green channel'.

Customs Deputy Director Parakrama Basnayake said the Chinese were searched on suspicion and the cigarettes found in their baggage.

He said they had 600 cartons of two Chinese brands of cigarettes with each carton valued at Rs.10,000.

The suspects worked for a private construction firm handling the renovation of the runway.

This has been the second biggest detection of smuggled cigarettes at the BIA this year since the arrest of a Chinese woman on February 12 when she attempted to smuggle into the country 300 cartons of Chinese cigarettes worth Rs.3 million.

Mr. Basnayake said the 300 cartons of cigarettes was said to have been for the use of Chinese labourers engaged in various construction projects in Colombo.

“There is a high demand for Chinese cigarettes among Chinese workers, but we cannot allow them to bring in foreign cigarettes, because the import of tobacco products is banned,” he said.

One of the suspects who admitted to having brought the contraband was fined Rs.100,000.

Customs Superintendents Jagath Pushpakumara and Ananda Rathnakumara made the detection on the instructions of Mr. Basnayake.

The contraband was confiscated and the Chinese workers released. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)

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Comments - 10

bandara Saturday, 11 March 2017 09:35 AM

this just the tip of the ice berg. This is how the Chinese have continuously ruined this country with the patronage of the former regime

Lord Wolfstein Saturday, 11 March 2017 09:59 AM

These Chinese workers are only small fish. The sharks are the Chinese officials who want to exploit the country with port, airport, highway and other large-scale projects.

JAN Saturday, 11 March 2017 11:27 AM

MR Regime decayed our entire society for USD commission Balance Stealing by MSRW GAJAMITHURO All greedy for USD via DM Android App

ANTON Saturday, 11 March 2017 12:01 PM

TOTAL NUMBER OF CIGARETTES SALE IN SRILANKA = COMPANY CIGARETTES CHINESE CIGARETTES.

lokka Saturday, 11 March 2017 04:32 PM

chinese are number one in dodge goods makers

Bala Sunday, 12 March 2017 07:45 PM

Rich Chinese labourers who can afford an Rs 100 worth fags daily. And really clever guys to bring such a large numbers in one go. Probably have fitted into a small carry on bag

kumara Sunday, 12 March 2017 09:43 PM

Recently at BIA, one old physically dirty Chinese person with a dirty bag was refused entry

kumara Sunday, 12 March 2017 09:44 PM

I am a professional,been in china many times,worked there for some time.Invited by a reputed International company in china, now embassy is asking me to get Immigration approval from China for issuing a visa to travel to china.For this I need a police clearance report my company registration endorsed by Chinese embassy which may take at least a month.At the moment I have put my trip on hold.These two incident will explain you where we are heading as a country, what will be our fate as Sri Lankans.

shantha Monday, 13 March 2017 02:18 AM

The only thing straight about them is the hair?

sathees Monday, 13 March 2017 07:30 AM

Gov. greed back fires . . .

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Chinese workers in BIA project nabbed with Rs. 6m worth of fags

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