Two Chinese passengers nabbed at BIA for cigarette smuggling attempt

By T.K.G. Kapila

Colombo, April 5 (Daily Mirror) - Two Chinese passengers were arrested by a team of Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport, (BIA), this morning while attempting to smuggle a stock of cigarettes worth Rs. 3.63 million through the “Green Channel” without declaration.

The suspects, aged 23 and 24, are reported to be Chinese businessmen. They had arrived at the airport from Kunming, China, at around 1.10 a.m. on China Eastern Airlines flight MU-713.

During inspection, Customs officers discovered 121 cartons of cigarettes—amounting to 24,200 cigarettes—concealed in their luggage. The cigarettes were manufactured in China.

The suspects have been taken into custody, and further investigations are being carried out by airport Customs authorities.