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Seized Contraband Breakdown
Quantity of seized items by category
Primary Sources
Passenger arrested with cigarettes worth over Rs. 5 mln at BIA
A Sri Lankan passenger attempting to smuggle a consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes and e-cigarettes valued at Rs. 5.53 million into the country was arrested by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in the early hours of today (18). According to Customs officials, the suspect, a 25-year-old businessman from Kandy, attempted to exit through the ‘Green Channel’, which is designated for passengers with no items to declare at the BIA. He had arrived at BIA from Dubai at around 1.05 a.m. today onboard Flydubai flight FZ 569, said Ada Derana reporter. Upon inspection, officials discovered a total of 177 cigarette cartons containing 35,400 sticks of foreign cigarettes, along with a total of 110 sticks of e-cigarettes concealed in two suitcases, officials said. The suspect has been taken into custody by Customs officials, and further investigations are underway.
Passenger held at BIA with Rs. 553,000 worth cigarettes, e-cigs
A 25-year-old Sri Lankan businessman was arrested by airport customs officers in the early hours of April 18 while attempting to smuggle a stock of foreign-made cigarettes and electronic ...
Six Chinese nationals arrested with smuggled cigarettes at BIA
Customs officers at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) arrested six Chinese nationals for smuggling a consignment of cigarettes. The incident was reported by Ada Derana on April 16, 2026.
Six Chinese nationals arrested with smuggled cigarettes at BIA
A total of six Chinese nationals who illegally brought a consignment of cigarettes into the country have been arrested by Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). The suspects, who arrived in the country on three flights early this morning (16), were taken into custody by officials of Airport Customs and the Narcotics Control Unit of Sri Lanka Customs following ...
