Two nabbed with contraband fags

by Prabhath Withana

 Airport police narcotic officers have arrested two persons, who attempted to smuggle in 258 cartons of illegal cigarettes worth around Rs 5.1 million.

The police seized 51,600 sticks of illicit cigarettes. One of the suspects was a 42-year-old woman from Marawila off Chilaw and she had arrived from Bangalore. Officers found 17,200 sticks of cigarettes concealed in her bag.

The other suspect was a 33-year-old male from Mutwal. He had returned from Dubai and authorities found 34,400 sticks of illicit cigarettes in his possession, police said adding that the two suspects were released on bail and would be produced before the Negombo Magistrate on May 29 along with the contraband.