Container-full of Red Sandalwood seized

A container carrying a load of Red Sandalwood worth Rs.220 million was detected by the Customs Revenue Task Force at the Orugodawatta Container Yard this morning, Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

He said the container had arrived from Duabi for transshipment through the Colombo Port. The 200 bags of Red Sandalwood were declared as Calcium Carbonate.
 
Mr. Gamini said the container was seized because the contents was not in compliance with the CITES -- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species agreement. International trade in Wild Fauna and Flora is an offence under this agreement. (Chaturanga Pradeep)