Customs seize over Rs. 640mn worth heroin from container

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama and T.K.G. Kapila 

A large stock of heroin worth more than Rs. 640 million was seized by Customs officers of the Colombo Port Control Division while being smuggled into the country, Customs Media Spokesman Deputy Customs Director Sudatta Silva said.  

He said 16 kg and 193 grams of heroin were detected at the port, concealed in a refrigerated container.  

According to Customs investigations, the container had arrived in the country onboard the ship ‘Wide Juliet’ from Karachi, Pakistan, on Thursday (June 15).  

The container was seized following information received by the Customs officers after conducting long-term investigations based on intelligence information received from the officials of the Colombo Port Control Customs Division.  

At the time of the raid, the person who had imported the container to Colombo was preparing to immediately divert it back to Karachi.   However, the Customs officials seized the container and had detected the heroin stock hidden in the special chambers inside.

  
Three persons residing in the Colombo area who are involved in smuggling this stock of heroin have been arrested by Sri Lanka Customs.  

The officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Division also assisted in this investigation. The heroin and the three persons involved have been handed over to the Police Narcotics Division for further investigations.