Sri Lanka, May 20 -- Three Chinese nationals have been arrested by Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), after being found in possession of a large consignment of mobile phones and batteries allegedly smuggled into the country, officials said.

The suspects were intercepted on last evening (19) while attempting to exit through the "Green Channel" at the arrival terminal.

The group had arrived in Sri Lanka at 6.43 p.m. on China Eastern Airlines flight MU-6017 from Shanghai, China.

Among them are a 34-year-old Chinese woman and two male passengers aged 35.

Customs officers became suspicious after one male passenger entered the Green Channel carrying a black polythene bag obtained from duty-free packaging. Upon...