Customs seize luxury items worth Rs.15 mn
Customs seized a 45foot container packed with perfumes, shoes and other luxury items worth Rs.15 million at the Colombo Port yesterday.
The container had been imported from Dubai by a BOI registered poultry farm stating that it contained ‘H beams’ for the construction of the farm.
The Customs arrested a company director, a wharf clerk and two oth-
Investigations are underway to arrest the mastermind in the smuggling racket which had deprived the country of more than Rs.30 million in taxes
ers on charges of having attempted to smuggle the items out of the Colombo Port by evading tax worth millions of rupees.
Investigations are underway to arrest the mastermind in the smuggling racket which had deprived the country of more than Rs.30 million in taxes by smuggling out of the port some 23 containers this year.
The Customs said the man also operates a container trailer production company, which was approved by the BOI.
Customs oficials said they faced another major problem during investigations because they were unable to obtain sufficient information from the BOI about the mastermind who had evaded a huge amount in taxes.
The raid was carried out by a team led by Customs Director Ranjan Canagasabey, Deputy Director A.T Walawage and Deputy Superintendent Sanath Fernando.