News
STF seizes 10 Mn illegal ciggies worth Rs 1.3 Bn Rupees
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Police Special Task Force (STF) has seized a 40-foot container containing over 10 million sticks of cigarettes, valued at 1.3 billion rupees (approximately 3.96 million U.S. dollars), police said on Friday (17).
According to police statements, the cigarettes were unlawfully imported into the country without payment of the required excise duty. The STF intercepted the container close to the Kelanithissa Power Station in Grandpass, as per police sources.
In connection with the incident, the STF has apprehended a 65-year-old suspect residing in Makola. The individual was taken into custody for further questioning.
Both the suspect and the confiscated contraband have been handed over to the Grandpass Police for continued investigation, as confirmed by the police department.
