Colombo, Aug. 27:
Two Indian nationals were arrested at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle Chinese-made cigarettes worth approximately SLR 834,000 into the country, local media reported.
The suspects were identified as a 33-year-old man employed in the construction sector and a 38-year-old woman working as a schoolteacher. Their names were not released.
According to the Daily Mirror, the two had allegedly purchased 278 cartons containing 55,600 cigarettes of various brands in China before travelling to Singapore and subsequently arriving in Sri Lanka.
They landed at Bandaranaike International Airport around 12.25 am on Singapore Airlines flight SQ-468.
Airport Police Narcotics Bureau personnel allegedly found the cigarettes concealed in three suitcases carried by the two passengers.
The authorities seized the cigarette consignments and arrested the suspects for suspected violation of Sri Lanka’s customs and import regulations.
The value of the seized cigarettes was estimated at SLR 834,000, making the attempted consignment a significant case of alleged tobacco-product smuggling.
The two accused were expected to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court for further legal proceedings.
Sri Lankan authorities have stepped up checks at international entry points to prevent the illegal movement of cigarettes, narcotics and other restricted goods.
Investigators are also expected to examine the travel history of the suspects and determine whether they were acting independently or as part of a larger smuggling network.
The case remains under investigation, with the seized cigarettes forming part of the evidence against the two Indian nationals.