News

Suspicious parcel in plane toilet turns out to be gold

Published

11 months ago

November 10, 2023

editor

A parcel suspected to be explosives, found in a toilet of an Indian bound aircraft today from the Bandaranaike International Airport, was discovered as a parcel of Gold weighing two kilograms, Customs officials have said.

As Flight AI-272 of Indian Airlines took off from Katunayake Airport today at 01.35 pm to the runway to depart for Chennai, India the airline staff had discovered there was an unclaimed black parcel in the rear toilet of the plane.

Accordingly, this flight did not take off and turned back from the runway at 01.40 pm.

All the passengers were taken out before the plane was taken to an isolated place. After being checked by the bomb disposal unit, the contents of the parcel were discovered.

After that, the parcel containing gold cream weighing two kilograms has been handed over to the airport customs officials for further investigation and none of the owners of this parcel has been arrested.

Subsequently, the Indian flight departed BIA at 04.43 pm for Chennai, India.

(Pics : sundaytimes.lk)

News

Arsenic contaminated tinned fish stock to be re-exported

Published

4 hours ago

October 12, 2024

editor

A consignment of canned fish, containing the toxic heavy metal ‘Arsenic’, has been found from the Customs storage complex in Orugodawatte.

In a statement, the Department of Government Information says that the consignment in five containers amounts to USD 215,000.

The toxic canned fish was inspected by the Secretary to the Ministries of Environment, Wildlife, Forest Resources, Water Supply, and Irrigation Prabath Chandrakeerthi yesterday (Oct. 11)

Mr. Chandrakeerthi has said that measures will be taken to re-export the stock instead of being destroyed in Sri Lanka.

“These canned fish were imported in May 2022. This contains toxic heavy metal ‘Arsenic’ beyond the stipulated weight level. Therefore, it is unfit for human consumption. It has been notified as usable as animal feed. As it is unfit for human consumption it clearly cannot be used as animal feed as well,” he said.

Further investigations are underway.

News

Luxury vehicle confiscated after CIABOC probe

Published

4 hours ago

October 12, 2024

editor

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the confiscation of a luxury vehicle seized by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued the order following a request made by CIABOC.

It is revealed that the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Montero jeep, belongs to a businessman from the Badulla area.

Investigations had uncovered that the vehicle was imported using falsified information provided to the Customs, resulting in the government being defrauded of more than Rs. 55 million in taxes.