Smuggled cigarettes worth Rs 50 m seized

Rasika Somarathna

A large stock of illegally smuggled cigarettes worth over Rs 50 million was seized by Excise sleuths from a house belonging to a wealthy businessman in Minuwangoda, Sunday evening.

Excise Department spokesman Inspector Prabhath Jayawickrema said two suspects were arrested including the businessman who had been engaged in the lucrative trade over a long period.

The businessman had imported the cigarettes from China by producing false documents to the Customs, Jayawickrema added.

Excise Department Narcotics division sleuths had been on the businessman’s trail over a long period.

According to Jayawickrema, Sunday’s detection is one of the largest of its kind.

The matter is to be brought before Commissioner General of Excise Wasantha Hapuarachchi at the conclusion of the investigations pending further penalties.