• 6 Chinese nationals arrested with Rs. 11 m cigs

A total of nine Chinese nationals were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake early yesterday morning (16) while attempting to enter the country to allegedly engage in cybercrime-related activities. A consignment of electronic communication equipment valued at Rs. 24,020,000 was also seized by Airport Customs officials. The group arrived at the BIA at 12.25 a.m. yesterday from Kunming in China, traveling on a China Eastern Airlines flight, MU-6912. They were found to be in possession of 383 used mobile phones, 101 tablet computers, and six Wi-Fi routers, which had been concealed by taping them to their bodies and hiding them within their clothing. The suspects are currently being detained by Airport Customs officials pending further investigation.

Meanwhile, six Chinese nationals who illegally brought a consignment of cigarettes into the country have been arrested by Customs officers at the BIA. The suspects, who arrived in the country on three flights early yesterday morning, were taken into custody by officials of the Airport Customs and the Narcotics Control Unit of the Customs following inspections. During the inspection, a total of 75,900 cigarettes manufactured in China were discovered in their luggage. The value of the seized consignment is reported to be Rs. 11,385,000.