Sri Lanka Customs made a special request to the public, including airport passengers, to refrain from accepting and transporting parcels or luggage belonging to other individuals when engaging in air travel or any other form of journey.

The notice comes due to the risk of smugglers unknowingly using passengers to transport illegal substances, including narcotics.

Elaborating on the matter, Customs Media Spokesperson Chandana Punchihewa stated that ordinary individuals face a severe risk of being trapped in grave crimes without even knowing what they are transporting.

He pointed out that smugglers use even very close relatives and friends without their knowledge, adding that an incident was recently reported where an attempt was made to import a stock of narcotics under the name of a 19-year-old youth.

The Customs Media Spokesperson showed that smugglers arrange to hide drugs subtly in a manner that cannot be easily detected even if one inspects the luggage oneself. He also urged the public to think deeply about the real intention behind someone offering a free air ticket to send a person abroad.

Sri Lanka Customs further emphasised not to agree to transport goods or parcels that do not belong to oneself under any circumstances, as severe punishments, including the death penalty, are imposed for drug trafficking in many countries across the world.