Customs prevented over Rs.100 m worth hard drugs from entering country:

Largest detection of banned narcotics last year

Rasika SOMARATHNA

In 2012, the Sri Lanka Customs has prevented hard drugs worth of over Rs.100 million from entering the country. These detections are considered the largest apprehension of banned narcotics within an year by the customs since 2001.

During the year, Customs sleuths siezed 3.3 Kg of cocaine worth over Rs.42 million, 3.68 Kg of Methaphetamine worth of Rs.48 million, heroin valued at over Rs.6 million and over 24 Kg’s of Cannabis valued at over 3.6 million and a large quantity of Hashish.

According to Customs Spokesman Lesley Gamini, sleuths made significant headway in curbing the smuggling of restricted and prohibited goods and also preventing tax evasion during 2012.

In addition to narcotics, Customs sleuths also siezed gold slabs and jewellery worth over Rs.153 million from being smuggled into the country.

The revenue earned by way of fines on offenders who tried to smuggle gold amounted to more than Rs.30 million.

Customs authorities during the year also confiscated foreign currency values at over Rs.160 million. For the first time in its history, two foreign nationals were arrested with a bundle of papers used for printing fake US dollars which if had gone through, would have fetched US $ 61,230.

When queried Customs Suprintendent Nihal Alahapperuma attributed the rise in detections to the use of better technology, improved training for officers and enhanced coordination with its international counterparts.

He also said the department was working with commitment and vigour to prevent tax avoidance and evasions which is one of the aims of illegal goods smuggling which could undermine the effectiveness of tax policies and result in less revenue for the government.