COLOMBO: Two Sri Lankan nationals, a male and a female, were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake this morning by Customs officials while attempting to smuggle in 44,140 counterfeit cigarettes into the country.
Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini stated, the couple, both aged 40 years and residents of Colombo 12, was arrested while trying to smuggle in the cigarettes hidden in their baggage. They had arrived in the country on a flight from Shajah.
The seized cigarette stocks amount to Rs.441,400. After a Customs inquiry, the cigarettes were confiscated and the suspects released after being imposed a penalty of Rs.50,000 each.
