Lankan arrested at BIA over plant smuggling

By T.K.G Kapila

Colombo, March 27 (Daily Mirror) - A Sri Lankan passenger has been arrested by airport customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after he attempted to illegally take out ornamental plants worth around Rs. 200,000.

The suspect, a 57-year-old businessman from Kandy, had arrived from Bangkok, Thailand on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-405 at around 12.30 a.m. on March 27.

Customs officials said the man had concealed the live ornamental plants in his luggage, wrapping them in paper leaves, and attempted to pass through the “Green Channel” at the arrival terminal, where no declaration is required.

However, during inspection, officers detected the undeclared plants and initiated a formal investigation. It was revealed that the suspect had not obtained a valid import permit or plant health protection certificate to bring the plants into the country.

The confiscated plants were subsequently handed over to the Katunayake Plant Quarantine Institute for destruction to prevent any potential environmental or agricultural risks.