Rs. 1.6 M worth of cigarettes seized by customs

Three Indian Nationals who had arrived in the island from Kuala Lampur in Malaysia, who had allegedly attempted to smuggle in four hundred cartons containing foreign cigarettes concealed in their bags, worth of Rs. 1.6 million, were taken into custody yesterday (12) morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Customs Media Spokesman and Director of its legal section Lesley Gamini said.

The arrested suspects were aged 23, 26 and 28 respectively and were said to be frequent visitors to Sri Lanka according to the Customs. They were taken into custody while they were attempting to exit from the Green Channel of the airport.

Deputy Customs Director Sarath Bopearachchi, who conducted the Customs Inquiry, had imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on one of the suspects and Rs. 10,000 on the other two while also confiscating the cigarette cartons.