Man nabbed at BIA for attempting to smuggle protected plant species to China

By T.K.G. Kapila

Colombo, March 31 (Daily Mirror) - A foreign national was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morniong (31) while attempting to smuggle a stock of the protected plant Kotala Himbutu (Salacia reticulata) out of the country, Customs officials said.

The suspect, a 46-year-old Chinese national who had been visiting Sri Lanka, was apprehended by a team of Customs officers at the departure terminal in Katunayake.

Officials revealed that the suspect had concealed approximately 21 kilograms of Kotala Himbutu in his luggage. The consignment had been cut into pieces and packed in packaging bearing a globally recognized Sri Lankan tea brand in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.

Kotala Himbutu is a protected plant species under Sri Lanka’s Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, and its export is strictly prohibited.

Further investigations are being carried out by officers attached to Sri Lanka Customs at Katunayake Airport along with the Customs Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Unit.