Customs seize container with refuse tea worth Rs.10 Mn

20 April 2021 06:24 pm - 5 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A 40-foot container load of refuse tea worth Rs. 10 million has been seized today at the Colombo Port, Customs Deputy Director (Legal Affairs) and Media Spokesman Sudantha Silva said.

Speaking to the media, he said the container was recalled while being shipped to Iraq through United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The raid was conducted by the Customs Risk Management Unit, he said.

“During the raid, the customs officers managed to find 67,495 kg of refuse tea packed in sacks,” he said.

"The consignmenet of refuse tea was declared to the Customs as chilli powder and rice. During the raid, four suspects were arrested and later remanded.

Without further investigation, the customs officials disclosed that the suspects had exported refuse tea worth Rs.60 million packed in 23 separate sacks. The suspects have engaged in this business using the illegal Undial fund transfers system." Customs spokesman said.

The exporter of the refuse tea is a businessman from the Kolonnawa area.(Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

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Comments - 5

T 4 2 .. Tuesday, 20 April 2021 07:10 PM

excellent name SL is making for itself, worldwide. Iraqis may not know much about wild elephants, but they certainly know about quality tea they drink. then that greek bondi kabaraya says the whole world is waiting to invest in SL...i think he means in 500 years from now...

Tia Maria Tuesday, 20 April 2021 08:35 PM

Re export to somewhere. ...!

mohamed Sulaiman Wednesday, 21 April 2021 06:07 AM

WOw WHAT A DISGUSTING episode,well i am sure a minister must be behind this racket,what is the President going to do about it,this is disgracing Sri lanka wholesale.What next,Country is sold crap Tea is sold,what else is left?

M.O.A. Careem Wednesday, 21 April 2021 07:47 AM

This a crime to the country - bring foreign exchanged, arrest main culprit n blacklist the exporter n stop all E.D.B. dues to this illegal exporter

Ranaweera Wednesday, 21 April 2021 08:47 AM

I believe that the crime here is false declaration of the items being exported to pay lower taxes and avoid other restrictions. If other countries are asking for refuse tea then exporting these with proper declaration will not harm our brand. Most Sri Lankans poor people are currently consuming refuse tea.

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Customs seize container with refuse tea worth Rs.10 Mn

Comments - 5

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