Sri Lankan authorities have arrested two Indian nationals after recovering more than 50,000 illegal cigarettes from their luggage at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. According to officials, a large consignment of Chinese-manufactured cigarettes with an estimated market value of LKR 7.98 million was seized. Investigators are examining whether the shipment was intended for organized smuggling rather than personal use.
According to the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau, both suspects are 26 years old. They allegedly began their journey in Cambodia before travelling via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Sri Lanka. Preliminary investigations indicate that the cigarettes were purchased in Cambodia and transported to Colombo.
During routine customs and security inspections at the airport’s arrival terminal, officials recovered 266 cartons containing more than 50,000 cigarettes concealed inside the passengers’ luggage. Owing to the quantity involved, authorities treated the case as suspected commercial-scale smuggling and detained the two men for questioning.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether the cigarettes were intended for illegal distribution within Sri Lanka or formed part of a larger cross-border smuggling network. Authorities are also examining whether additional individuals or organised criminal groups were involved in coordinating the transportation and distribution of the contraband.
Following preliminary legal proceedings, both accused were granted bail. They have been directed to appear before a magistrate’s court on July 21, where the case will proceed under Sri Lanka’s customs and tobacco control laws.
According to local media reports, the two arrested Indian nationals are residents of Hyderabad and Mumbai. However, officials have not disclosed their identities or further personal details as the investigation remains ongoing.
In recent years, Sri Lanka has significantly strengthened surveillance and security measures at its international airports to curb the illegal movement of tobacco products, narcotics, gold, foreign currency and other prohibited goods. Enhanced baggage screening, intelligence-sharing and targeted inspections have led to several major seizures involving international passengers.
Authorities said illegal cigarette smuggling causes substantial tax revenue losses and allows unregulated tobacco products to enter the domestic market, posing public health risks. Investigators are continuing to examine the origin of the seized consignment, its intended distribution channels and any links to organised smuggling networks. Additional charges may be filed if further evidence emerges during the investigation.
