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| Thursday, 25 March 2004 |
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Attempts to smuggle 120,000 yards of camouflage material foiled by Manjula Fernando Customs officers at the Grayline container yard, Orugodawatte foiled an attempt by a businessman to smuggle in a huge consignment of camouflage material, similar to those used by the LTTE for its combat uniforms. The detection was made on Tuesday. "The consignment worth around Rs. 6 million comprising a total of about 120,000 yards of camouflage material, plain khaki material, a blue material similar to those used for sea tiger cadres and bed-sheet material used in LTTE hospitals were found concealed inside two 20 feet containers, Deputy Customs Director Malie Piyasena said yesterday. Six suspects including a businessman in Wellawatte who imported the two containers were arrested by the Customs investigating officers in this connection and were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. The consignment sent by a Sri Lankan Tamil based in Malaysia was described as 40,000 packs of photocopy paper. The consignee had already paid Rs.01 million as Customs duty to waive off any suspicion by the local customs. "This type of textiles are exempted from duty and they are liable to pay only the Value Added Tax (VAT) which will amount to a very negligible sum ," Deputy Director said. The businessman had stated he was in the motor spare parts business and had claimed this was his first consignment from overseas. According to the Customs, these type of textiles require a special permit from the Defence Ministry for clearance. and arrived at the Colombo Port on March 15 and were taken to the Orugodawatte container yard on Monday (22) afternoon. The detection was made during a routine inspection by assistant superintendent R.C.Livera. Investigations were conducted by Deputy Director Taraka Seneviratne, Assistant Sup. Malie Piyasena, Superintendents, Sarath Narada and Assistant Superintendents MS.M.Fernando and N.D.Liyanage. |
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