Customs loses 40 million in taxes in foreign liquor fraud

News

Customs today (01) detected a 40 feet container to seize 11,257 liters of foreign liquor that was to be re-exported to Maldives, only to find boxes filled with mineral water bottles.

The liquor had been imported by a private company in 2018 under the special customs scheme to be re-exported to Maldives.

Customs officers visited the warehouse in Seeduwa with the support of CID following an order from the Director-General of Customs, after the relevant party failed to appear despite several requests. When they opened the container, they found only boxes of mineral water.

It is suspected that the liquor bottles had been smuggled out of the container yard.

Importing duty free is allowed for airport duty free shops and for the purpose of re-exportation. Customs said the estimated revenue loss to the government is about 40 million rupees.