Agar-Wood and White Sandalwood worth over Rs. 12 million, seized: Sri Lanka Customs

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Customs on Friday (Aug 14) seized a stock of Agar-Wood and White Sandalwood, which was to be smuggled to Dubai, said Customs officials. "The stock containing 120 kg of Agar-Wood and 120 kg of White Sandalwood, which was to be smuggled out of the country by an export businessman residing in Colpetty, Colombo was seized by Customs officials, on Friday evening," Sunil Jayaratne, the Customs Spokesperson said on Saturday (Aug 15). According to Customs officials, the total stock is valued at Rs. 12.5 million. Jayaratne said the stock was found by officials attached to the Export Facilitation Center of Sri Lanka Customs while inspecting several suspicious parcels in one of the freight containers. The stock of Agar-Wood and White Sandalwood to be smuggled out was declared to Sri Lanka Customs as a freight containing Fruits, Manioc, Lime, and Papaya, according to Jayaratne. Sri Lanka Customs has detained three suspects with regard to the investigation and they are being questioned. "Under the FAUNA AND FLORA PROTECTION ORDINANCE and the CUSTOMS ORDINANCE, the exportation of live animals, live plants, parts of animals and plants is prohibited," Customs Spokesperson, Sunil Jayaratne further noted.