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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Customs officials yesterday unearthed a multi million rupee duty fraud involving the import of vegetable oil by a leading importer in the Pettah market.

The modus operandi behind the racket was to import containers full of vegetable oils while disclosing to the Customs that the containers contained fatty acid used for manufacturing soap.

Sources said the duty for fatty acid is much lower than on vegetable oil.

The Customs had detected 100 metric tons of vegetable oil in five containers when the trader had attempted to mislead the Customs claiming that they contained fatty acid, sources said.

The value of the five vegetable containers is estimated at around Rs. two million.

Customs officials are now investigating to ascertain whether this importer had committed similar duty frauds in the past.

Further investigations are conducted by Assistant Customs Superintends Wasantha Wimalaweera, Sujeewa Pathinisekera, Jagath Gunatilake, W. A. S. Kumara and T. S. Mendis under the guidance of Chief Preventive Officer Benette Ratnayake and Chief Assistant Prevention Officer K. R. Seneviratne.

STONE 'N' STRING

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