For possessing counterfeit cigarettes Record fine of Rs.3.4Mn imposed on three suspects by Negombo Magistrate

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Three men found guilty of possessing a large stock of smuggled cigarettes were imposed a record fine of Rs.3.4 million by the Negombo Magistrate recently.   
The three suspects who were carrying out the illicit business of distributing counterfeit cigarettes were taken into custody by the Police Special Task Force personnel in Gonahena, Kadawatha in June 2016.   

The STF then seized 26, 400 sticks of two foreign brands of cigarettes namely Benson & Hedges and Dunhill from the suspects’ possession. 

 
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Seeduwa Police that filed charges in the Negombo Magistrate Courts for possessing, transporting and selling illegal cigarettes in the country.   

The first suspect, a resident of Periyamulla in Negombo, who pleaded guilty of all charges was ordered to pay a fine of Rs.1,000, 000 (one million) whilst the other two suspects and residents of Norochcholai in Puttalam had been imposed a fine of Rs.1.2 million each.   

All three were given a suspended sentence of five years of imprisonment.   

The plaint was submitted by the Seeduwa Police, whilst Attorney-at-Law Senaka Ulladupitiya appeared for the aggrieved party of Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC).