Customs seize Rs. 2.6 mn worth of illicit fags at BIA

Couple returning from Dubai via Kuwait

A local couple, who attempted to smuggle in a consignment of illicit cigarettes worth over Rs.2.6 million concealed in their baggage, were arrested by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) early last morning.

Customs officials stationed at the arrival terminal of the BIA on suspicion searched a female passenger who attempted to enter through the Green Channel (nothing to declare entrance) and discovered the illicit cigarettes in her baggage.

Customs Spokesman, Director Sunil Jayaratne told the Daily Mirror that the couple had arrived in the country at around 2.30 am on a Kuwait Airways flight. They had flown in from Dubai via Kuwait.

When the 43-year-old female was apprehended she had pointed to a man who was standing behind her claiming that it was he who had asked her to carry part of the consignment.

The male, aged 42, was also checked subsequently and the other half of the illicit consignment was recovered from his baggage.

Altogether 266 cartons - each containing 20-stick packs- that consisted 53,200 sticks made up of famous brands and the sale of which was banned in this country were seized. The consignment of cigarettes had been valued at Rs. 2,660,000.

Customs Deputy Director of BIA Jagath Obeysekara, who conducted the inquiry, revealed to the Daily Mirror that this was the second visit by the couple who had visited Dubai and it

was the same man who had taken the woman along with him to carry the illicit goods.

The couple had used a Kuwait Airways flight to travel to Dubai on October 1, as it would return via Kuwait on a transit. Since there would be a lower tendency for Customs officials to check those who arrive from Kuwait, as most of them are expatriate workers returning to Sri Lanka, for bringing in unlawful goods, the couple was suspected to have used this particular air route to smuggle in the goods, hoping to hoodwink the Customs officials.

The questioning of the suspects revealed that the man had promised to pay a sum of Rs. 20,000 to the woman as a fee for helping to smuggle in the illicit cigarettes.

Customs Superintendents G. S. Chandrasiri, R. M. K. Dayananda, S. Ranasinghe with Assistant Superintendents M. M. M. Rizvy, Y. B. L. Indika, H. M. C. U. De Silva and H. U. I. Perera conducted the detection on the instructions of Additional Director General of Customs Stanley Senarathne, Customs Director BIA M. A. Karunarathne with Deputy Directors Jagath Obeysekara and S. P Kiriwaththuduwa.

The couple who was found to be residents of Kattankudy was released after a fine Rs.100,000 each was levied from them while the illicit consignment was ordered to be forfeited by DDC Jagath Obeysekara.

When the 43-year-old female was apprehended she had pointed to a man who was standing behind her claiming that it was he who had asked her to carry part of the consignment