Customs confiscate Rs. 2 b worth rosewood on transhipment

The Customs yesterday confiscated a container with rosewood worth of Rs 2 billion, a senior official said.

Speaking at a media briefing held at Finance Ministry Customs Department Additional Director General - Thilak Perera said that it was a transhipment container  which was shipped from Madagascar to China.

“The container was seized by the Customs on a tip off given by the World Customs Organisation,” he added.

He said the rosewood is used for making luxury furniture items. The Department has conducted investigations on this for about one year and added that they would dispose it now in an appropriate manner.(CD)