Customs detect smuggled cigarette container

Customs sleuths yesterday succeeded in finding 55,600 cigarette cartons stacked in a container at the Orugodawatta Cargo Verification Terminal (CVT) yard worth over Rs.85 million.

Finance State Minister Dr. Ranjith Siambalapitiya stated that if this cigarette consignment was not detected by the Customs officers, the tax revenue lost to the government would exceed Rs.750 million.

Customs Spokesman Sudaththa Silva said these cigarettes have been imported from China under the guise of an institution approved by the Sri Lanka Board of Investment.

Apart from this, the Customs have also succeeded in arresting five vehicles that were brought to Sri Lanka with illegal valuables hidden very meticulously.

The value of these goods is Rs.90 million. It is estimated that if this could not be arrested, the revenue lost to the government would be Rs.70 million.

The Customs have also managed to find a quantity of counterfeit liquor which is not allowed to be imported into the country from Italy.

The Sri Lankan Customs has managed to prevent these three frauds, which cost the government more than Rs.845 million in tax revenue.