Customs seize rats among smuggled animals on SriLankan flight

26 March 2024 09:26 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By T.K.G. Kapila

Katunayake, March 6 (Daily Mirror) - A business couple was arrested last evening at the arrival lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by Customs officials for attempting to smuggle 88 live animals worth Rs. 4 million into the country.

The animals were imported from Thailand while violating Sri Lanka's Wildlife and Flora Ordinance, Animal Diseases Act and Customs Ordinance.

The suspects were arrested with the live animals following a joint raid conducted by a group of officials from the Revenue Monitoring Division of the Customs, the Biodiversity Unit of the Customs, and the Animal Quarantine Institute of the Department of Agriculture.

The young business couple is a resident of the Puwakpitiya area in Avissawella, and they arrived at the BIA at 4.35 p.m. from Bankok via SriLankan Airlines flight UL-405.

The animals were packed in small plastic boxes with ventilation holes. The animals included fish, frogs, squirrels, turtles, lizards, hamsters, salamanders, species of worms, and rats.

Katunayake airport Customs officials said that it was strange that this stock of live animals had not caught the eye of the airport security officers or Customs officers in Bangkok, Thailand.

This young business couple has been detained by the Sri Lanka Customs and further investigations are being carried out. Meanwhile, these animals have been handed over to the Katunayake Airport Animal Quarantine until the investigations are completed.

Pix by T.K.G. Kapila

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Comments - 12

FredSnR Tuesday, 26 March 2024 11:09 AM

This is serious very serious the harm it can do to the ecology, agriculture long term if they spread and multiply PLEASE INVESTIGATE CAREFULLY for reasons why rats?

Dee Tuesday, 26 March 2024 12:01 PM

Culprits!

Mr fernando Tuesday, 26 March 2024 01:37 PM

Atleast one minister must be involved in this racket ,must have done it before with Sucess. Send them back to the original country and demand explanation

MY PREDICTION Tuesday, 26 March 2024 02:29 PM

The Business couple MUST DEFINITELY been carriers for a large fee. The CID must grill the couple at the famous 4TH FLOOR and force out for who they were carrying the cargo into the country. I feel it may be for BREEDING purposes and RE EXPORT to Thailand and or EXPORT to countries who keep them as pets.

senaka Tuesday, 26 March 2024 02:29 PM

we can easily spread a communicable disease through customs, infect some animal and watch them laugh for the camera, no gloves no protective gear at all, if any other country they take it very seriously incase some disease is spread, for us its a media show

Ram Tuesday, 26 March 2024 02:37 PM

If it is a danger to mour Eco Systems return them to the country of origin. If not after quarantine release them to our Zoo

No the animals won't be any concern to our ecosystem Tuesday, 26 March 2024 06:17 PM

That's a joke. You see how much drugs and other things come into our nation. These tropical creature aren't going to cause problems to the local ecosystem. The our local humans are killing our local ecosystem more than 10,000 times more of these animals coming into this country could do.

Gappiyaa Tuesday, 26 March 2024 02:46 PM

Poor creatures suffer because of all this human actions

Cherath Tuesday, 26 March 2024 04:22 PM

If I had my way the young couple wouldn't see the daylight till old age. Absolute filth, they are! They only cared for themselves. Not a trace for these unfortunate innocent beings.

Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 26 March 2024 11:45 PM

Very peculiar baggage.

raj Soma Wednesday, 27 March 2024 08:09 AM

They should be prosecuted ,find heavy and jailed so that no one else think about doing it. This is real danger to society as they can bring various deceases and spread it like Corona virus.

RR Wednesday, 27 March 2024 03:30 PM

NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THE HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL CULPRITS

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Customs seize rats among smuggled animals on SriLankan flight

Comments - 12

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