By Roy Denish
KATUNAYAKE, Sri Lanka — A late-night airport interception has exposed a major cigarette smuggling operation, with customs officers seizing 88,000 illicit cigarettes worth over Rs. 13.2 million from a Chinese businessman arriving from Bangkok, highlighting ongoing threats to Sri Lanka’s border security and tax revenue.
Customs officials at Bandaranaike International Airport arrested a Chinese businessman early Sunday morning after discovering more than 88,000 smuggled cigarettes hidden in his luggage, authorities said.
The contraband has an estimated street value of more than 13.2 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $44,000 USD).
The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, arrived at the airport outside Colombo at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Thai Airways flight TG-307 from Bangkok, Thailand. During a routine screening, customs officers intercepted the traveler and uncovered 440 cartons of Chinese-manufactured cigarettes concealed inside his bags.
Sri Lankan customs officials said the seizure underscores the persistent challenge of illicit trade and contraband smuggling through international transit hubs. Authorities noted that such operations not only deplete state customs revenue but also feed an expanding illegal domestic market.
The suspect remains in customs custody at the airport while a comprehensive investigation is conducted. Formal legal proceedings against the businessman and the forfeiture of the seized tobacco are expected to follow, officials said.
In response to the incident, airport security and customs departments announced plans to tighten surveillance and baggage screening processes to better detect and disrupt international smuggling rings.
