In a significant enforcement action, Sri Lanka Customs has handed over approximately 3 million cigarettes with an estimated value of more than 75 million rupees to Ceylon Tobacco Company for destruction that were seized in recent operations during the first six months of 2024 at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake highlighting the ongoing battle against illegal tobacco smuggling. The attempted evasion of duties and other levies for the seized cigarettes were around 480 million rupees.
The contraband was imported mostly from United Arab Emirates, Qatar, India, Cambodia and China using the passengers coming to Sri Lanka by air. 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.
Customs officials 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. They reiterated their commitment to enhancing border security and preventing the influx of prohibited goods into Sri Lanka.