Sri Lanka, Feb. 10 -- Sri Lanka Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) intercepted a 45-year-old foreign national this morning (10) for attempting to smuggle a large consignment of foreign cigarettes.

The suspect, identified as an engineer currently working on a development project in Sri Lanka, was apprehended at the arrivals terminal.

The individual arrived at Katunayake from Sharjah at 4:24 AM via Air Arabia flight G9-502.

During a routine inspection of his luggage, customs officers discovered 36,860 cigarettes of the Iranian brand "Bahman," which is manufactured for domestic use in Iran.

The total market value of the seized tobacco is estimated at Rs. 5,529,000.

The contraband was concealed within two p...