A Sri Lankan passenger was arrested this morning(5), at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle foreign cigarettes worth over Rs 4.5 million.

Officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) apprehended the 44 year old fisherman from Kalpitiya, Puttalam. 

He arrived on a SriLankan Airlines flight from Dubai at 5.25 a.m.

Authorities found 30,000 sticks (150 cartons) of foreign cigarettes concealed in two pieces of luggage. 

The suspect and the seized contraband are scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on 8 October.