Sri Lanka, March 9 -- A Sri Lankan passenger has been arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by officers of the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) while attempting to smuggle a consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes into the country.

The arrested suspect, a 24-year-old businessman from Negombo, was taken into custody, yesterday (08), officials said.

The seized consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes is estimated to have a street value of Rs. 5.1 million.

He had arrived at the airport at 9.50 p.m. from Dubai onboard Emirates flight EK-650.

Upon inspection, officers discovered 170 cartons containing 34,000 sticks of foreign-manufactured cigarettes, which had been concealed inside his luggage.

The suspect...