By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

Law enforcement agencies running operations in and outside the airport made a couple of detections of counterfeit cigarettes worth over Rs.11.1 million during the weekend and arrested two females and one male.   

Two Sri Lankan women who tried to smuggle a large stock of imported cigarettes worth over Rs.10.8 million (Rs.10, 800, 000) into the country whilst returning from Abu Dhabi and Dubai were intercepted at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday morning.   

Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) officials stationed at the BIA Arrival Terminal searched the women on suspicion and found 360 cartons of brand Manchester containing 72, 000 sticks of cigarettes in their baggage.   

The arrested women were from Warakapola and Hambantota areas and are in their middle ages, the BIA sources said.   

One of them had arrived from Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways EY 394 flight whilst the other had come from Dubai on FitsAir flight 8D 822.  

They were released on police bail and had been notified to appear at Negombo Magistrate’s Courts on Wednesday (09). The counterfeit cigarettes were forfeited.   

Meanwhile, the Police Special Task Force (STF) from Puttalam Camp seized 2, 020 sticks of Gold Leaf branded cigarettes, which had been smuggled into the country sans paying duty.   
The STF conducted a raid in Thabbowa Junction in Karuwalagaswewa area and took a 54-year-old man into custody with illegal cigarettes worth Rs.330, 000.   

The suspect had been handed over to the Karuwalagaswewa Police Station for further inquiries.