Bird nest pirate further remanded

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The suspect who was arrested recently by Biodiversity Protection Department of the Customs Department for allegedly trying to smuggle edible bird nests from Sri Lanka to Thailand at the Bandaranaike International Airport was further remanded until September 14.

Negombo Additional Magistrate Upul Rajakaruna yesterday remanded the suspect , Mohommed Nizar Vasni Mohommed, until September 14, pending inquiries of the Customs' Biodiversity Protection Unit.

The suspect was arrested on August 18 on the the charges of having 35.7 kilograms of illegal edible bird nests in his possession at the BIA. Customs' Biodiversity Unit OIC D.A.M.R. Sagara yesterday said , their investigation has revealed that the suspect had smuggled at least 80 kilograms of illegal swiftlet bird nests to Thailand on two early occasions.

Meanwhile, the the Deputy Director of the Unit will conduct an inquiry into the case tomorrow. OIC Sagara said the suspect will face a Customs' inquiry on Wednesday.

According to the head of the Customs " Bio-Diversity Unit, a kilogram of edible bird nest has a transaction vaue of Rs. 200,000 . They are in high demand for which matter the edible nest Swiftlet has become one of the endangered birds.