Colombo, September 2 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka Customs today destroyed a large quantity of counterfeit cigarettes seized from many smuggling attempts through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) during the first half of this year. 

The Customs handed over approximately three million sticks of cigarettes with an estimated value of more than Ra.75 million to Ceylon Tobacco Company for destruction. 

The attempted evasion of duties and other levies for the seized cigarettes were around Rs.480 million.

The seized contraband had been imported mostly from United Arab Emirates, Qatar, India, Cambodia and China using the passengers coming to Sri Lanka by air. 

Customs spokesman Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda said the assistance provided by the Border Risk Assessment Center (BRAC) was crucial in identifying these high risk passengers at the airport. 

Manchester, Benson & Hedges, Gold Leaf, Malboro, Dunhill, Esse, Platinum, Diamond along with several Chinese brands were among the seized cigarettes. The cigarettes were forfeited under the sections of Customs Ordinance after penalizing the passengers involved in smuggling.

The destruction of the seized goods was carried out under stringent regulations to ensure environmental safety and compliance with national laws.

Arukgoda emphasized that this operation is part of a broader strategy to combat illegal tobacco trade, which poses serious health risks and undermines legal market structures. He reiterated their commitment to enhancing border security and preventing the influx of prohibited goods into Sri Lanka. 

Top officials including Customs Chief Sarath Nonis, ADG Achala Chandrasekara, ADG Seevali Arukgoda, Customs Director Padmini Kumarihami with CEO CTC Fariya Subani, Duputy CEO CTC Kavinda Nanayakkara and CTC AIT Maneger Amila Madurangana witnessed the destruction. 

The crushed remains of the tobacco was to be then sent to incineration at Western Power mega garbage dump in Kerawalapitiya.

Pic by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe