Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officials have arrested a Sri Lankan passenger at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday who tried to bring a stock of foreign cigarettes worth over 30 lakh rupees into the country under the guise of carrying cosmetics from Qatar.
This passenger, who came to Sri Lanka from Qatar Airways flight QR 662, was able to find 100 cartons of both ‘Platinum Cool’ and ‘Platinum Double Mix’, which are completely banned for sale and use in Sri Lanka.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that this passenger, who is a resident of Panadura, is a person who regularly travels abroad to import cosmetics to Sri Lanka.
The suspect has been released on police bail and ordered to appear before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on September 3. .