Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) today seized a large consignment of illegal cigarettes worth over Rs.100 million attempted to be smuggled into the country, Customs Spokesman Director Leslie Gamini said.
The contraband consisted of four million sticks of Top Mountain brand cigarettes were carefully packed in nine wooden crates loaded in a 40 foot container. The sale of brand Top Mountain is illegal in Sri Lanka.
The cigarettes had been smuggled into the country by declaring as industrial chilling machines. The consignment was sent from Hong Kong to two local consignees with bogus addresses.
Director RTF K D Nicholas is conducting investigations with his team Deputy Director Siripala Edirimanne, Superintendents G B Gnanaraj, J A S Jayakody, Harsha Fernando, Deputy Superintendent S Sivapathasundaram, U N Dushantha, S M M K Siriwardena, P M S Udayakantha, H M N S Rajaguru.