Imported cigarettes worth Rs. 507 million seized by Customs

Sri Lanka Customs has confiscated 3,380,000 sticks of foreign cigarettes that were illegally imported. This action took place during an inspection of a container that came from Dubai in November 2025. The container raised suspicion, prompting customs officers to take a closer look. It was discovered that the shipment was misrepresented as “bed linen” in the paperwork. The value of the seized cigarettes is around Rs. 507 million, according to Sri Lanka Customs. Additionally, the government is estimated to have lost about Rs. 460 million in tax revenue because of this cigarette import. Further investigations revealed that the container was sent to a private company in Battaramulla.