BIA authorities seize Rs.16.2Mn worth of cigarettes in first week of October

Colombo, Oct. 6 (Daily Mirror) - A trader, fisherman, electrician, and a foreign national who attempted to smuggle large quantities of illicit cigarettes into the country, worth over Rs.16.2 million, were intercepted by authorities at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) during the first seven days of October, the Daily Mirror learns.

The police at BIA made these detections in three separate incidents, seizing a total of 108,400 sticks of cigarettes belonging to the foreign brands ‘Platinum’ and ‘Manchester.’ Under the Customs Ordinance, the sale and personal importation of foreign cigarettes is prohibited in Sri Lanka.

In the latest incident, a local man returning from a three-and-a-half-year job as an electrician in Dubai was searched at the airport yesterday morning, leading to the discovery of contraband.

The 48-year-old resident of Kantale had landed in the country around 5:30 a.m. on FitsAir flight 8D 822 from Dubai and had attempted to carry 45 cartons of Platinum-branded cigarettes concealed in his baggage.

Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) officials at the BIA Arrival Terminal found that the contraband had been hidden inside chocolate boxes and detergent packaging. The items were seized, and the suspect was asked to appear before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (8).

The largest seizure occurred on Wednesday night when two passengers, including an Indian national returning from Dubai, were arrested while attempting to smuggle Rs.10.4 million worth of foreign cigarettes.

A 26-year-old local trader and a 23-year-old Indian tourist, who had arrived on an Emirates flight, had attempted to carry 347 cartons of cigarettes concealed in their bags.

Meanwhile, a fisherman from Puttalam, returning on a SriLankan Airlines flight, was apprehended by PNB officials with 150 cartons of cigarettes on Sunday morning.

Altogether, authorities seized 542 cartons of imported cigarettes during this period.