A 40-year-old foreign visitor was intercepted by Sri Lanka Customs at Bandaranaike International Airport while attempting to bring in over 39,000 contraband cigarettes from India.
A 40-year-old foreign national was stopped by Sri Lanka Customs officials at Bandaranaike International Airport on Friday morning while attempting to smuggle a large quantity of foreign cigarettes into the country. The individual, employed as a business worker, had arrived on IndiGo flight 6E1175 from Chennai at approximately 11:45 a.m. and was identified upon passing through the Green Channel.
Customs personnel discovered 197 cartons of foreign cigarettes concealed within two pieces of the traveler's luggage. The total quantity seized amounted to 39,400 individual cigarette sticks, which authorities valued at approximately Rs. 5.91 million. Following standard procedures, Customs ordered the complete forfeiture of the contraband goods.
The suspect was subsequently released after settling a penalty of Rs. 250,000 with the authorities. The incident represents another instance of contraband cigarette smuggling attempts detected at the island's primary international gateway.
