Rs. 20 million worth whisky, cigarettes seized at BIA

By T.K.G. Kapila

Katunayaka, July 2 (Daily Mirror) - Two Sri Lankan businessmen were arrested last night at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle a consignment of whisky and cigarettes valued at Rs. 20 million through the airport’s Green Channel.

The suspects, a 30-year-old from Colombo and a 36-year-old from Yatiyanthota, arrived on Emirates Airlines flight EK-652 from Dubai at 6:30 p.m. yesterday.

Customs officers discovered 10 suitcases containing 581 cartons of foreign-made cigarettes totaling 116,200 sticks and 117 bottles of whiskey purchased from the Dubai Airport Duty Free.

The duo was detained by airport customs officials, who are continuing investigations into the incident.