Three Arrested At Bandaranaike International Airport With Over 120,200 Illegal Cigarettes

COLOMBO (News 1st): Three Chinese nationals were arrested by Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport while attempting to illegally smuggle a stock of Chinese-manufactured cigarettes into the country.

Upon inspecting nine of their luggages, officials discovered 601 cartons containing a total of 120,200 cigarettes.

The seized stock is estimated to be worth Rs. 18,030,000. The suspects had arrived at Katunayake from Bangkok, Thailand. 

Following the detection, airport Customs officials confiscated the entire shipment and ordered the suspects to pay a total fine of Rs. 900,000, amounting to Rs. 300,000 per person.