Customs destroy Rs.748Mn worth counterfeit fags at CTC compound

11 August 2023 04:18 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 4 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Sri Lanka Customs yesterday destroyed a large stock of smuggled counterfeit cigarettes worth over Rs.748 million at the crushing machines of the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) compound in Kotahena.

Officials of the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) seized a 40 foot container carrying the stock of illegally imported cigarettes from Dubai on June 22, 2022.

The consignment had been sent to a consignee in Ragama under false documents and had contained 9,940,000 sticks of a foreign brand of cigarettes ‘Matador’.

The contraband had been valued at Rs.748,006,076 (Rs.748 million) and the tax revenue Sri Lankan Government would have missed if the stock went undetected was calculated at Rs.695 million.

Following the Customs inquiry the contraband was forfeited and ordered to be crushed at the CTC compound. Thus, senior Customs officials including its Director General Sarath Nonis as well as top CTC officials including Legal and External Affairs Director of British American Tobacco (BAT) Zahrah Cader witnessed the event. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)

Comments - 4

Lawry Friday, 11 August 2023 06:42 AM

I like to see heroin, ice and gsnja being destroyed. Perhaps selling these cigarettes would have brought income to the state. All you do is certify it as good if it is good

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Jude Friday, 11 August 2023 07:09 PM

Hey Lawry, they always destroy counterfeit cigarettes coz CTC don't want smokers to get addicted to these brands, period!!

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Jude Friday, 11 August 2023 07:22 PM

If SL government wants to emulate what the western countries doing, then SL government should impose special Levy from cigarette manufacturer CTC in few billions of rupees, yeah. Most countries have implemented such levies from cigarette manufacturers!!

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Ranilbackedraufbiz Saturday, 12 August 2023 09:08 PM

Didn't you consult Rauf Hakeem before destroying the FAGS? it is his sole business whenever he comes under Ranil's power banks.

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