Seven Sri Lankans smuggling cigarettes from three countries nabbed at BIA

• The local passengers who have reportedly returned from Kuwait, Dubai and Oman on three different airlines had tried to leave the airport without declaring the contraband concealed in their baggages

Seven Sri Lankan nationals returning from three Middle Eastern countries were apprehended by Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday morning for attempting to smuggle Rs.18.6 million worth illicit cigarettes.   
The local passengers who have reportedly returned from Kuwait, Dubai and Oman on three different airlines had tried to leave the airport without declaring the contraband concealed in their baggages.   
According to the BIA Customs sources the officials have seized 620 cartons of the brands of ‘Platinum’ and ‘Manchester’ containing 124, 000 sticks of cigarettes, which the sale and use is completely prohibited in Sri Lanka.   
Statements have been recorded from the seven male passengers, who were residents of Anuradhapura, Kekirawa, Kahawatta and Colombo.   
Customs officials forfeited the goods and are conducting inquiries to impose a fine on each suspect.