A Sri Lankan passenger has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) while attempting to smuggle a consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes worth Rs. 4.5 million into the country.

The 44-year-old suspect, who has been identified as a fisherman from Kalpitiya, Puttalam, was arrested earlier yesterday (5). He had arrived at the BIA from Dubai, UAE, on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-226 at 5.25 a.m.  

Upon inspection, officials discovered 150 cartons containing 30,000 sticks of foreign cigarettes concealed inside two luggages. Along with the seized cigarettes, the suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on 8 October.