Bangladeshi businessman nabbed at BIA with Rs. 5.1 mn cigarette haul

ByT.K.G. Kapila

Colombo, April 19 (Daily Mirror) - A foreign passenger who attempted to smuggle a stock of foreign-made cigarettes worth Rs. 5.1 million into the country was arrested by Airport Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning (19).

The suspect, a 36-year-old Bangladeshi businessman, had arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, at 12.55 a.m. on Thai Airways flight TG-307.

Customs officials apprehended him while he was attempting to exit through the “Green Channel” at the arrival terminal, which is designated for passengers with no goods to declare.

During a search, officers discovered 170 cartons of foreign-manufactured cigarettes, amounting to 34,000 sticks, concealed in two bags in his possession.

Following a Customs inquiry, the entire consignment was seized. The suspect was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 100,000, officials said.