Two suspicious containers in RTF custody

Two more suspicious containers believed to contain drugs have been seized by the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) for further investigation upon their arrival from Karachi in Pakistan.

The detection came not long after the RTF seized a 40-foot container which came from Pakistan with 261 kilogrammes of heroin worth Rs.2.5 billion concealed inside cans said to contain grease.

Customs sources said one container had arrived on August 27 and the other on September 2.

Both the containers are 40 feet long. The two containers are believed to contain potatoes; however the importers have not cleared them so far.

Thereafter customs took steps to auction them since they were not cleared but the two containers were purchased by two individuals but they had failed to dispose the stock of rotten potatoes and as such the containers were held back by the Customs.

According to Customs sources there is a growing tendency to use Sri Lanka as a transshipment hub for smuggling and distributing drugs.
Pakistan nationals are known to operate a drug ring supplying heroin to local drug dealers and smugglers. (Supun Dias)