STF to block sale of illegally imported fags

Sandasen Marasinghe

The Police Special Task Force is taking measures to curb the sale of illegally imported cigarettes, Superintended of Police Waruna Jauasundara said.

He said the Police Special Task Force during the last weekend were able to seize a haul of illegally imported cigarettes from Ragama and Colombo 12 which deprived approximately Rs 65 millions to the state coffers . He added that it was clear that this well organized racket had been in operation over a considerable period of time and has deprived an enormous amount of money to the treasury which could have been utilized to provide facilities to the people of this country.

SP Waruna Jasundara stated that the STF under the directions of the STF Commadant DIG R W M C Ranawaka never hesitated in taking prompt action against such rackets when informed.

He added illegally imported cigerettes worth of Rs 65 million were seized from a warehouse at Heenkeda, Ragama based on information received from an informant.

Based on the same information another haul of cigarette worth of Rs 10 million was seized at Bandaranayake Mawatha, Colombo 12.

Four suspects were arrested in connection with the racket and handed over to the Ragama and Kotahena Police.

IP Nadeeka Silva of the STF who conducted the raids stated that the the Ragama warehouse could not be suspected from outside. However evidence was found that the property was owned by a person who became rich within a very short period of time. The cigarette was a product of a Middle Eastern country.

However this was the largest haul of cigarettes that was seized from a site outside the customs.

However the STF too seized another haul of illegally imported cigarette worth of Rs 20 million in September last year which deprived around Rs 16 million to the government.

The STF was successful in seizing another massive haul of illegally imported cigarette worth of Rs 40 million in 2009.