Sri Lankan Customs Seize Illegal E-Cigarettes and Cigarettes

Dec.09.2024

Illegal e-cigarettes and cigarettes worth nearly 750,000 LKR seized at Sri Lanka's Katunayake airport by customs officials.

According to a report in the Sunday Times on December 9th, customs officials at Sri Lanka's Katunayake Airport intercepted a shipment of illegal e-cigarettes and cigarettes valued at nearly 7.5 million rupees (25,000 USD) last Friday (6th). The goods were illegally brought into the country by a businessman returning from Dubai.

Customs officials seized 740 Chinese-manufactured e-cigarettes and 780 "Benson and Hedges" brand cigarettes from the 8 suitcases carried by this businessman.

In a preliminary investigation conducted by airport customs officials, the businessman stated that the smuggled cigarettes were intended to fulfill an order he had received.

Currently, customs officials have detained him and are conducting further investigation into the matter.

References:

[1] Customs Seize Rs. 7.5M Worth of Illegal E-Cigarettes and Cigarettes at Katunayake Airport

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