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Customs bust timber duty fraud

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Customs officials have busted a multi million rupee duty fraud involving the import of a large consignment of sawn timber by a leading timber importer.

Sources said the modus operandi behind this clandestine operation was to dodge high duties by under-invoicing the timber imported by this firm in Colombo, thereby hoodwinking Customs and other authorities.

Initial investigations revealed that this firm had imported sawn-hard timber to worth 11 million rupees avoiding the payment of proper duties. But, the firm had declared to the Customs that it had ordered only sawn light timber valued at six million rupees.

While the investigations were on, the importer had admitted that he had wrongly declared the value and the category of timber imported by the firm. Customs have so far recovered two consignments of timber imported by this firm in this manner.

Sources said the importer had allegedly attempted to mislead the Customs in order to avoid paying Customs duties, VAT, Port and Aviation levy.

Officials are conducting further investigations to ascertain whether the company had been involved in similar duty frauds on earlier occasions too.

Further investigations are conducted by Assistant Customs Superintendent Wasantha Wimalaweera (OIC - Marine Division), Jagath Gunathilake, A. Weligapola, under the guidance of A.M.K. Abeysinghe (Chief Asst. Preventive Officer) and A. Welikala (Chief Preventive Officer).

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