A foreign passenger was arrested by Airport Customs officials yesterday (21) after attempting to smuggle a large consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes into Sri Lanka through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake. The suspect, identified as a Chinese businessman, was taken into custody after he allegedly attempted to leave the airport through the Green Channel, which is reserved for passengers who have nothing to declare. The suspect had travelled from China to Bangkok, Thailand, and arrived in Katunayake on a Thai Airways flight in the early hours of yesterday. A search of his luggage uncovered 440 cartons containing 88,000 cigarettes manufactured in China. The seized stock has an estimated value of Rs  13 million.