Customs foil attempt to smuggle out sandalwood oil

20 kilograms of sandalwood oil worth Rs.7.2 million that was concealed in an aluminum cylinder was detected at the air cargo terminal in Katunayake by the staff of Customs Department’s Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Division (BCNP), Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

He said the cylinder with the sandalwood oil was to be exported to Melbourne, Australia tomorrow morning by a BOI Company in Horana.

The contraband was declared as cinnamon bark oil valued at Rupees one million, he said.
The export of sandalwood and sandalwood oil are prohibited under the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and the Forest Ordinance, he added. (Chaturanga Pradeep)