Customs seize Rs.6.9 mn worth illicit fags at BIA

Four locals including one woman who had attempted to smuggle in a large stock of illicit cigarettes worth close to Rs.7 million was thwarted by the Customs officials at Bandaranaike International Airport on Sunday morning. The group of Sri Lankans had arrived in the country from Dubai on Flydubai Flight FZ 547 at 6.30a.m. with the contraband concealed in their baggages. Acting Customs Spokesman Deputy Director Vipula Minuwanpitiya said the inbound passengers had tried to leave the airport through the Customs ‘Nothing to Declare’ Green Channel, where they were searched on suspicion.

The authorities recovered 690 cartons of foreign brand of cigarettes which were concealed in their baggages. The cartons contained 138, 000 sticks of cigarettes worth around Rs.6, 900, 000. The suspects aged from 31, 36, 40 and 49 years were reportedly residents of Naththandiya area. Sleuths of the Customs Narcotics Control Division made the detection and took the passengers into custody. Customs Superintendents R. K.

The group of Sri Lankans had arrived in the country from Dubai

M. Dayananda, S. Ranasinghe, Assistant Superintendents D. M. R. Cyril, H. A. P. N. Gunawardena, L. S. Gamage and G. T. Rathnayake made the detections on the instructions of Customs Director (BIA) M. A. Karunaratne and Deputy Directors Asoka Ranjith and D. P. M. Goonawardhene. An inquiry was underway and the contraband with the suspects were detained for further questioning.