Customs seize 1,240 cartons of cigarettes | Daily News

Customs seize 1,240 cartons of cigarettes

The stocks of illegal cigarettes.
The stocks of illegal cigarettes.

A stock of illegal cigarettes worth Rs. 17 million in 12 boxes with ready-made garments was seized by the Customs recently.

Customs Additional Director General Sunil Jayaratne said that the stock was consigned to a non-existing company in Avissawella.

He added that the customs officials initiated investigations as nobody had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport to claim the goods.

“A team of customs officers visited the address and found a house at the location. Its inmates were unaware of such an import,” he said.

He said that 284,000 sticks were detected in 1,240 cartons and they had been imported from Dubai.

The contraband was made in Dubai under the brand name of Business Royal.

Jayaratne said that nobody has been arrested yet in this regard. Investigations are continuing, he said.