Customs seize Rs. 120 million worth of smuggled cigarettes at Colombo Port

Colombo, March 18 (Daily Mirror) - A consignment of illegally imported cigarettes worth over Rs. 120 million was recovered by the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) during an inspection at a warehouse within the Colombo Port premises.

The consignment contained a total of 713,000 sticks of cigarettes (3,565 cartons), which were smuggled into the country as part of a disguised shipment.

According to the Customs Department, the cigarettes were hidden within the packaging of goods imported from the United Arab Emirates for a company based in Padukka.

The contraband was discovered concealed inside five pallets of hollowed-out polypropylene corrugated sheets (5mm thick), which had been imported from the UAE to the same company.

The estimated value of the seized cigarettes is Rs. 124,019,554, resulting in a revenue loss of Rs. 107,985,621 to the government, the Customs Department stated.

Investigations are currently being carried out by RTF officers.