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Last Updated : 2024-05-19 14:30:00
11 September 2023 08:08 pm - 4 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A massive cigarette consignment worth over Rs.470 million, which was smuggled in from India last week was seized by the Sri Lanka Customs and displayed to the media at Grayline Container Yard in Grandpass today.
The Customs Central Intelligence Directorate (CID) officials on information searched a 20-foot container that had arrived in the Colombo Port last week and found 4.5 million sticks of cigarettes, Customs Spokesperson Director Seevali Arukgoda said.
The container had been fully loaded with the cigarettes of brand of Manchester, which the sale and consumption is entirely prohibited in Sri Lanka.
The authorities found 450 master cartons in the container each containing 50 cartons.
The consignment had been valued at Rs.110 million plus the government would have incurred a loss of tax revenue of Rs.360 million if the authorities missed the detection.
Director of Customs CID T W K Wijetunge headed the investigations with Senior Deputy Director Thimal Warnakulasuriya, Deputy Directors H R G Karunathilake and Rajitha Komangoda, Deputy Superintendent Viraj Thilakaratne and Assistant Superintendents Kelum Thushara, Shanaka Kumarage, Sudesh Ferando and Erandi Silva.
The Customs arrested two suspects along with the contraband. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)
Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe
Karalasingam Sivalingam Monday, 11 September 2023 09:11 PM
It is a clever detection, Sri Lanka is cash trapped, let's not destroyed the seized cigarettes, cigarette is not a banned item, why not auction them and get few millions to government coffers or tourist hotels could purchase them.
Sambo Tuesday, 12 September 2023 07:27 AM
Seized from the importer and given to the open market. This is a game. Sold for Rs 60 a fag.
Lt. Col. R.P. Gunaratne Tuesday, 12 September 2023 11:54 AM
This consignment was ordered by Cabinet Minister Prasanna Ranatunga (behind the scene) through another businessman in Gampaha. Customs please hand-over this case to the CID for further investigations.
S.M.G. Chandrapala - General Merchant Tuesday, 12 September 2023 11:56 AM
Like the previous gold smuggling by a Member of Parliament, this is also the same cheat by a very prominent Minister.
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