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Customs BDPU detects illicit sandalwood exports
A series of recent cases of illegal sandalwood exports has been detected by the Customs Bio-Diversity Protection Unit (BDPU), Customs sources said. Accordingly, on October 7, Customs detected 50 kg of fragrant oil which the officials suspect was white sandalwood oil, being exported to Singapore.
Meanwhile on October 16, Customs detected 600 kg of white sandalwood sticks and 125 kg of sandalwood oil worth Rs. 4.1 million being exported to Dubai. According to the Customs, the Board of Investment (BOI) has approved a project and signed agreements to import sandalwood to produce oil and export it.
However, it is not proved that the imported sandalwood is being used for export purposes. Again on October 16, Customs detected 50 kg of sandalwood oil worth Rs. 11.9 million being exported to a perfume company in France, according to the BOI agreement.
The Sunday Times learns that this company had requested for land to start up sandalwood plantations in Sri Lanka.
Already, there are sandalwood plantations in Talathuoya and Piliyandala areas. In another case, on October 22 sandalwood was detected being exported to Canada by a joint company with local and foreign participation.
Customs sources said that all the export items were detained by its BDPU, and investigations were under way.
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