20 April 2021 06:24 pm Views - 2203
A 40-foot container load of refuse tea worth Rs. 10 million has been seized today at the Colombo Port, Customs Deputy Director (Legal Affairs) and Media Spokesman Sudantha Silva said.
Speaking to the media, he said the container was recalled while being shipped to Iraq through United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The raid was conducted by the Customs Risk Management Unit, he said.
“During the raid, the customs officers managed to find 67,495 kg of refuse tea packed in sacks,” he said.
"The consignmenet of refuse tea was declared to the Customs as chilli powder and rice. During the raid, four suspects were arrested and later remanded.
Without further investigation, the customs officials disclosed that the suspects had exported refuse tea worth Rs.60 million packed in 23 separate sacks. The suspects have engaged in this business using the illegal Undial fund transfers system." Customs spokesman said.
The exporter of the refuse tea is a businessman from the Kolonnawa area.(Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
Pix by Pradeep Pathirana