• BIA passenger held with Rs. 6.5 m cigarette haul

Six suspects have been arrested in the Ratmalana and Imbulgoda areas in possession of 91 grams and 200 milligrams of Crystal methamphetamine also known as Ice. 

Police stated that officers also recovered counterfeit currency during the operation, including two Rs. 5,000 notes and 21 Rs. 2,000 notes.

The raid was carried out based on information received by a team of officers attached to the Mount Lavinia Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau.

The suspects are residents of the Imbulgoda, Dehipitiya, Pelenda and Ratmalana areas. Further investigations are being conducted by the Mount Lavinia Police.

Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan passenger was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake last morning (26) after officers discovered a large consignment of foreign-made cigarettes and e-cigarettes worth approximately Rs. 6.5 million. Police stated the suspect is a 22-year-old businessman from Galle. He had arrived from Abu Dhabi at around 3.30 a.m. on Etihad Airways flight EY-396.

Officers discovered 200 cartons containing 40,000 foreign-made Manchester cigarettes, along with 32 e-cigarettes, concealed inside six pieces of luggage carried by the passenger. The suspect and the seized items were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday.