Businessman nabbed at BIA with stock of illegal cigarettes

11 April 2025 02:06 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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By T.K.G. Kapila

Katunayake, April 11 (Daily Mirror) - A 29-year-old businessman was arrested this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with a stock of illegally imported cigarettes worth over Rs. 2.2 million.

The suspect, a resident of the Gampaha area, was apprehended by BIA Customs officers.

He had arrived at the airport from Dubai on April 11 at 5:00 a.m. aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL-226.

Customs officers discovered 75 cartons—containing a total of 15,000 foreign-made cigarettes hidden in his luggage.

The suspect has been detained by airport Customs, and further investigations are underway.

Comments - 8

Rip Winkle Friday, 11 April 2025 04:01 PM

Small fish as usual.

1 2

mina Friday, 11 April 2025 04:28 PM

There may be so many people who are trying their luck doing this cigarette smuggling business. They take a chance and come through the green Chanel as they don't have any thing to declare.

0 1

Nimal Jayaratne Friday, 11 April 2025 05:21 PM

The businessman who didn’t give kickbacks to the custom officials

0 3

Trehan Munasinghe Friday, 11 April 2025 06:13 PM

For crying out loud, just permit these imported Cigarettes, and add a duty at customs, clearly there is a demand for them, as the local CTC products are too expensive. What nonsense ! CTC pays a massive duty to the Gov't, they can't make the rules, and have a monopoly, why not the Gov't earn more from these imported brands and legitimise it.

0 7

DJ Friday, 11 April 2025 06:27 PM

Someone did not get the cut.

0 2

What does our comment mean? Saturday, 12 April 2025 02:17 AM

Are you praising the action of the Customs? or are you condemning the Customs for confiscating the illegal smuggling?

0 0

Riyaz Rauf- Toronto Saturday, 12 April 2025 03:19 AM

Can we please have banner headings as " A Professional Smuggler caught with Smuggling Cigarettes"? It's not fair to create negative perceptions of businessmen and women who create jobs and opportunities for others and contribute to the economy. It's time to name and shame the Smugglers. Hope the media act more professionally. Have a productive day ahead. Riyaz Rauf - Toronto

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Jude Saturday, 12 April 2025 09:33 AM

It's for personal consumption. He's a chain smoker. And for the festive season he wanted to give gifts with couple of cartoon of cigarettes to family and friends. Buddy next time bribe the officials so that you don't get your consignment confiscated.

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