14 foreign nationals arrested at BIA over cigarette smuggling

By T.K.G. Kapila

Colombo, May 28 (Daily Mirror) - Fourteen Chinese nationals were arrested by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), for attempting to smuggle a large consignment of foreign-made cigarettes valued at Rs. 27.3 million.

The arrests were made by airport customs officers during the morning of May 28 at the arrival terminal, when the passengers attempted to pass through the “Green Channel” without making a declaration.

The suspects had arrived at BIA at around 1.30 a.m. on May 28 aboard Batik Air flight OD-297 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Upon inspection, customs officers discovered 691 cartons containing 138,200 cigarettes manufactured in China, concealed in 14 pieces of luggage.

Sri Lanka Customs has detained all suspects and launched further investigations into the incident.