BIA Customs thwart attempt to smuggle in Rs.16mn worth fags with five inbound passengers

Five passengers coming from Oman with a large stock of counterfeit cigarettes worth over Rs.16 million was seized by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday morning.

Customs officials at the BIA Arrival Terminal on suspicion searched a group of male passengers coming on an Oman Airline flight WY612 at 7.45am yesterday and found the large stock of foreign cigarettes in their baggages.

The sleuths found 162, 000 sticks of cigarettes of Marlboro and Manchester in 810 cartons, which had been valued at Rs.1,650,000, the Customs sources said. The suspects who are aged between 24 and 45 years were residents of Maligawatta, Chilaw and Moratuwa.

The Customs detection was conducted by Assistant Superintendents Jude Fernando, Rasika Ariyasena, Ruwan Perera and Naveen Matharage on the instructions of Customs Superintendents Sugandi Padmanadan, K. Pallawala and Indunil Udaya.

The counterfeit cigarettes were forfeited and a fine of Rs.25, 000 was imposed on each suspect. (KURULU KOOJANA KARIYAKARAWANA)