COLOMBO: An employee of a private company in Colombo, who tried to import 682 live lobsters without the sanction of authorities, was arrested by Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake here the other day.
According to Customs Spokesman Lesley Gamini, the live lobsters weighing 140.9 kgs with a market price of Rs. 1.4 million, had been declared as edible fish in an attempt to mislead officers.
The suspect also had not obtained a permit from Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department, which is compulsory for such exports.
Gamini said the lobsters were packed in nine boxes and the suspect had tried to export them to Taiwan. He had been arrested at the Air Cargo unit after an officer detected the lobsters.
The investigation had been carried out by officers of the Customs Bio-Diversity,Cultural and National Heritage Protection Unit.
Following the investigation, the lobsters had been released to the high seas. The suspect had been imposed a penalty of Rs.400,000.
