Customs officials at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) arrested five Chinese nationals early today, October 17, for trying to smuggle in foreign-made cigarettes and used mobile phones valued at approximately Rs. 18 million. The suspects arrived in Sri Lanka as tourists on a China Eastern Airlines flight, MU-6017, from Shanghai, landing at 12:10 a.m. During their arrival, Customs officers conducted searches and found 497 cartons of Chinese cigarettes, totaling 99,400 sticks, and 422 secondhand mobile phones hidden in their bags. The suspects are currently held by Customs at BIA, and investigations into the case are ongoing.
General
Five Chinese nationals arrested at BIA with cigarettes and used phones worth Rs. 18 million
