Sri Lanka, June 2 -- Sri Lanka Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, have arrested 13 foreign nationals for allegedly attempting to smuggle a large consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes into the country today.

Officials said all suspects are Chinese nationals, aged between 28 and 45 years.

The group was apprehended while attempting to exit through the Green Channel at the arrival terminal, which is reserved for passengers with no goods to declare.

According to Customs, the suspects arrived at BIA around 1.10 a.m. today on AirAsia and Batik Air flights from Bangkok, Thailand.

A subsequent inspection of their baggage led officers to the discovery of 948 cartons containing 189,600 cigaret...