Fifteen packages of illegally imported cigarettes valued at Rs.22.5 million had been seized by custom officials at the Katunayake International Airport, Customs Media Spokesman Leslie Gamini said today.
The consignment which arrived on 14 June 2013, was imported from Dubai to the address of a deceased person in Colombo 12 and had been declared to the Customs as denim materials weighing 1300 Kg.
The consignee had paid a cheque of Rs.120,000 for the consignment.
Several individuals involved in this transaction were taken into custody in Orugowatta and Elakanda areas.
Police said, at the time of arrest one person was found with documents regarding this consignment.
According to Customs Officials, there were 2,250 cartons of these illicit cigarettes numbering around 900,000 and valued at Rs.22.5 million.
(Chaturanga Prdeep-DM Online /
Pix and video by deepa Adikari)
►WATCH
.jpg)
