• Lankan trio arrested at BIA with Rs. 46 m cigs 

Two Sri Lankans have been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake by the Customs on Wednesday morning (27), while attempting to smuggle in a large quantity of smartphones valued at Rs. 100 million, without the required approval from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. The suspects had attempted to exit the Airport through the ‘Green Channel’, which is designated for passengers with no items to declare. The suspects, aged 24 and 32, are residents of Grandpass. They had arrived in Sri Lanka onboard a flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Upon inspection of three pieces of luggage, Customs officials found 955 smartphones that had been smuggled into the country.

Meanwhile, three Sri Lankans have been arrested at the BIA on Wednesday morning while attempting to smuggle a large stock of foreign-manufactured cigarettes into the country. The trio had attempted to smuggle the cigarettes worth Rs. 45.8 million, using the ‘Green Channel’. They were apprehended by the Narcotics Control Division of the Customs at the arrival terminal of the BIA. The arrested individuals aged 24, 28, and 30, are residents of Colombo, Avissawella, and Mattakkuliya, respectively. According to the officials, the suspects had purchased the cigarettes in Dubai, transported them to Doha, Qatar, and from there flown to Sri Lanka on a flight that landed at the BIA at 2.05 a.m. Upon inspection, officers found 1,503 cartons of cigarettes concealed within 15 pieces of luggage carried by the suspects.