A Chinese national has been arrested by Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for allegedly attempting to smuggle a consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes worth Rs. 630,000 into the country, Ada Derana reported.
The suspect, a 40-year-old man, was apprehended while attempting to exit through the “Green Channel”, which is reserved for passengers with nothing to declare. He had arrived at the BIA from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at 12.55 a.m. on AirAsia flight AK 047.
Upon inspection, Customs officers discovered 201 cartons containing a total of 40,200 foreign-manufactured cigarettes concealed inside two suitcases in his possession, according to officials. The suspect was detained by Customs officials at the airport, and further investigations are under way.
The interception is the latest in a run of cigarette-smuggling attempts detected at the country’s main airport in recent weeks, several of them involving passengers arriving from Malaysia and other regional hubs. Customs officers have flagged the Green Channel as a common route exploited by couriers seeking to avoid duty on high-value tobacco consignments.
Sri Lanka imposes steep taxes on imported cigarettes, and authorities say smuggling deprives the state of significant revenue while undermining legal trade. Customs said enforcement at the airport would continue as officers step up baggage checks on arriving passengers.
