A suspicious container imported from India by a Colombo-based businessman was inspected by officers of the Sri Lanka Customs Preventive Division on the 14th of this month at the Customs Container Examination Center at the RCT Container Yard in Orugodawatta.
The suspicious 20-foot container had arrived in Sri Lanka on the ship Smiley Lady from India on the 12th of this month. In the Customs Declaration submitted by the importer in relation to the suspected container, the content of the shipment was declared as 23,150kg of Kollu.
During the examination of the container, the Customs officers found a stock of dried ginger, urid and palm sugar which are currently restricted to import concealed within 18,000 kilograms Kollu.
Amongst the contraband the officers have found 2,474 kilograms of dried ginger, 2,465 kilograms of urid and 248 kilograms of palm sugar which were subtly hidden in bags similar to those of the Kollu.
The market value of the total shipment is estimated at Rs. 6,417,467 / = and if this illegal import was successful the government would have lost Rs. 1,838,636 / = payable as import taxes.
Further investigations are being carried out by a team of Customs Officers of the Preventive Division headed by Chief Assistant Preventive Officer Mr. Aruna Shantha on the instructions of Chief Prevention Officer of Sri Lanka Customs Mr. Senaka Arawupola. At the conclusion of the investigation, action will be taken to hold a Customs Inquiry and to forfeit the shipment and impose a further forfeiture or a penalty on the persons responsible.
