News
Customs reject smugglers and contraband due to delay in handing over before 24-hour deadline
View(s):By Padma Kumari Kankanamge
The Customs refused to accept smuggled items, including pesticides from India, on the ground that they were handed over after the 24-hour deadline by the police.
The detection was made by the Navy off the Uchchimunai Island in Kalpitiya on Thursday morning. The Navy took two suspects into custody along with the contraband and handed them over to the Kalpitiya Police.
However, when the suspects were taken to the Customs office in Naikanda on Friday afternoon, the police were told that the goods and suspects should have been handed over within 24 hours and therefore they could not be accepted.
However, a police officer pointed out that they had practical difficulties in handing over the suspects and the goods, as the Navy delayed handing over the suspects to the police due to the rough sea conditions.
He said that thereafter they were looking for a vehicle to transport the smuggled goods to the Customs office in Naikanda after making their documentation.
The officer said they had to travel about 150 km to hand over the production, and therefore the Customs should consider the issues faced by those involved in the detection.
He said these difficulties strengthened their calls to reopen the Customs office at Sinnapaduwa in Kalpitiya.
In view of the frequent detections made in the Kalpitiya area, they should consider the practical issues and reopen the office without inconveniencing the officers involved in the detections, he said.
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