Customs officers refuse to open container in media presence

Customs officers yesterday shied away from opening two containers suspected to contain 62,000 litres of illegally imported Ethanol worth about Rs.40 million.

The stock of Ethanol which was imported from Vietnam was seized at Thotalanga by Excise officers on Wednesday. Although on many previous occasions the Customs had opened containers containing large stocks of illegally imported goods in the presence of the media, they had refused to do so yesterday giving rise to many questions.

“As the person in charge here, it is my duty to protect the workers and the goods. You media people have no right to enter this area, let me carry out my duties,” Grandpass Warehouse Customs Officer W. Nanayakkara said.

“I have to protect my workers from the media. If any pictures of the workers are published in the papers, they may be harmed,” he said.

When journalists asked him why he refused to allow the media to cover this issue unlike in previous instances, he said he could not comment on it.

“I cannot comment on previous issues, if the media wants to cover this they should get permission from the Director General of Customs or from the Media spokesman,” Mr. Nanayakkara said.

Journalists then tried to contact the

spokes-

As the person in charge here, it is my duty to protect the workers and the goods. You media people have no right to enter this area

man but failed.

However the container was not opened even though an officer who could handle the matter was present, saying they would wait till the owner of the container arrived and asked journalists to leave the premises.