Illicit cigarettes worth Rs.2.6mn seized

Illegally imported cigarettes worth around Rs.2.6 million branded as Gold Leaf were seized by the Fort Police when they were hidden inside a house in Maligawatta.

The cigarettes were hidden inside the house and they were contained in nearly 6,100 cigarette packets. It contained 121,460 cigarette sticks were contained in the cartons. The value of the stock is yet to be established.

Three suspects including two women were arrested during the raid which was carried out based on intelligence reports received by the police.

The suspects who are residents of Kolonnawa were taken into custody as they were trying to sell a stock of cigarettes to several vendors.

The suspects are to be produced in courts shortly. The Fort Police under the directions of CI Ratnayake are conducting further investigations into the incident to gain valuable information about such illegal trade and business. (Supun Dias)

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