COLOMBO: Bio Diversity Cultural and National Heritage Protection Branch of Sri Lanka Customs (BCNP) has successfully thwarted illegal attempt by international crime syndicates while in the process of transshipment, large stock of Rosewood logs alleged to have smuggled from an east African country. There are 3669 logs weighing 420 metric tons valued at US $7,000,000, (LKR 1,000 millions). Detained containers are to be examined by Customs BCNP officers with the participation of DGC at Greyline II Customs examination terminal Grandpas.
Officers of BCNP of SL Customs had information that smuggling operations of Rosewood from African countries through sea routes passing Sri Lankan waters by international racketeers. Therefore during last two months period Officers of BCNP has been vigilant on suspected ship movements from African countries touching Sri Lankan ports en route to far eastern countries. With the reception of information of international origin officers intensified their surveillance and as a result they were able to locate four containers out of six containers given in that information and detection of additional 24 containers of same contraband from the same source making whole detection into 28 containers. .This achievement is one of the most difficult challenge encountered by international enforcement agencies so far.
This unprecedented detection was successfully made under the able direction of DGC Mr. Jagath P. Wijeweera, Director of Customs (Social Protection Directorate) Mr. M.Paskaran and Deputy Director of Customs BCNP branch Mr Samantha Gunasekare. Further investigations are carried out by team of officers attached to BCNP unit ,namely Superintendent of Customs R.D.A.M.G.Niyarepola, Deputy Superintendents of Customs Mr Jayalal Fernando, Ms Priyanthi Wijenayake and Assistant Superintendents of Customs Thilanka Samaraweera,Dilan Weerarathna,Shahan Jayasinghe,Daminda Jayasinghe,Ashanka Wanninayake,Gayan Wijayagunarathna,Samantha Pushpakumara and Kithsiri Atapattu and Customs Inspectors Chamindu Gayashan and Ms Ruwani Rupasinghe are actively engaged in assisting in investigation.
