Customs net contraband oximeters

By Prabhath Withanage

Customs officials took into custody a consignment of oximeters being smuggled into the country early this week through the air cargo terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Customs Spokesman Deputy Director Sudantha Silva said.

An individual, posing as a clearing agent, had produced forged documents to the officials of SriLankan Cargo to get the oximeters released.

Later, the officers attached to the Customs Preventive Division intercepted the shipment at the exit point, after finding out that the oximeters had been released without submitting it for approval to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and payment of taxes to Sri Lanka Customs.

During the inspection, a total of 4,200 oximeters packed in 21 cartons were taken into custody by the Customs.

The value of the shipment was estimated at Rs. 2,344,642.

The suspect arrested over the incident has been remanded until Sept 21 after being produced before Negombo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (Sept. 07).

The Customs Preventive Division officials are conducting further investigations into the incident.