Katunayake Airport authorities have arrested three individuals, including a foreign national and a woman, for attempting to smuggle large quantities of foreign cigarettes into the country illegally. The arrests were made in separate raids conducted by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) Katunayake Airport Unit based on received intelligence.
On February 17, a 51-year-old Indian national arriving from Dubai was apprehended at the arrival terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). The suspect was found in possession of 15,000 foreign cigarettes (75 cartons) that had been illegally brought into the country.
In another operation on February 18, a 23-year-old man from Rasnayakapura was arrested at the BIA arrival terminal with 21,200 foreign cigarettes (106 cartons) smuggled from Dubai.
In a separate raid conducted on the same day, a 48-year-old woman from Pannipitiya was also arrested for attempting to smuggle 46,800 foreign cigarettes (234 cartons) from Dubai.
The Police Narcotics Bureau Katunayake Airport Unit is conducting further investigations into all three cases.
