Police have arrested a Malaysian national in Colombo over a large consignment of illegal cigarettes, Ada Derana reported.
The 30-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Saturday (July 25) in the parking area of a restaurant within the Kompannavidiya Police Division, following information received by officers. During the operation, police seized 36,200 sticks of illegal cigarettes found in his possession, along with a cab used to transport them.
The arrest was made by the Kompannavidiya Police, who are conducting further investigations into the incident.
The seizure is the latest in a string of illegal-cigarette detections reported in and around the capital in recent weeks, as authorities step up enforcement against the smuggling of untaxed tobacco. Sri Lanka imposes heavy duties on imported cigarettes, and officials say the illicit trade deprives the state of significant revenue while undercutting legal sales.
